we wanted a solution...

not more headache!

Even though E has been doing better physically, we've been having a lot of power struggles with her at night.  She keeps delaying bedtime and finding ways to pull us back into her room for conversation.

Her favorite ploy is to ask us in a pitiful-then-demanding voice to help her pull her blankets up because she "can't do it!"  (There has been so much "I can't" stuff happening with the potty situation that -- despite our best efforts at encouraging her -- she has sold herself on all the things she "can't" do.)

So D and I looked at her bed situation and realized that she may have a bit of a problem.  She's still in a toddler bed, and her summer comforter doesn't tuck in.  The blankets get askew.  How annoying for her.  And she's sorta getting too big for the toddler bed anyway.

IKEA?  We went over there full of hope.  They didn't have what we really wanted.  We settled on a second-best choice.  On the way out, we spotted the Kura bedframe and wondered if E would like a secret cave of a bed, canopied with fun fabric (when the bed is in the lower position).  She hopped in and seemed very happy.  We took it home.

Nightmare.  D spent all day putting it together.  I spent all day finding reasonable-but-soft twin bedding and fabric for making the canopy.  We didn't need to create any extra stress for ourselves, but we did big time.

Now E's room looks weird and too small.  What did we do?!  But I can see how this cozy cave could work for her.  She did need a bigger bed...  Aargh.  I hope this ends up being a good choice.

Luckily, her bedtime tantrums only last a half hour tonight so maybe the secure bedding helped.  Mom and dad are really tired and cranky.