I love you so I need to let you cry

For the last week, Lilly and Josiah have been getting up several times a night.... like 10 times a night. It's not only exhausting for Steve and I, but for the kids as well. We really have no idea why. One of the hardest things about raising multiples is that you cannot physically be there for your kids whenever you want to. In the last 2 (ish) years that we've become parents, we've learned that sleep schedules (or lack of) is a very controversial topic. There's the debate about how long to let kids cry or whether families should co-sleep or how long to leave them in their cribs, etc. These are very personal choices for families.

Although Steve and I have discussed this topic with friends and family and have read extensively on this, there's nothing....NOTHING that can prepare you for the issues you face when dealing with your own kids. To say nothing of the strategical components, your heart is so sad for your little ones when they're exhausted or grouchy; when they call out for you in the middle of the night or when you let them cry themselves to sleep.

And in the moment, I can't remember a more torturous time in my life than right now when Josiah and Lilly are calling for me, crying in their room. We've decided to try the "let them cry themselves to sleep" approach this evening. You see, we can't keep getting scattered handfuls of restless sleep. Yes, there's work and daily living that we need to be rested for, but the kids are so tired. We just don't know why they are doing this besides general curiosity and wanting to spend time with us. Heartless people that we are.

After snuggling with them, singing to them, tucking them in bed and placing them back there each and every time they got up, I left the twins' room at 7:50. When Steve came home, I was pretty upset after listening to them yell and bang on the door for 30 minutes. I was determined to wait until 8:30 to give them the chance to work it out themselves. At 8:28, it was finally quiet. Steve moved Josiah to his bed and that was that.

A good go to book for us has been Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. We've found it to be effective and reliable.

We'll see how the rest of tonight goes...