The End of Snuggles

It's been a long time since I've posted. I've been guilty of not taking the time for myself that I should be. I love to write and I love to share what I've written. I should take more time for it right?!

 

I promise you...I'm going to try harder. From now on. Deal?...Deal! On to the actual post.

 

When G was six months old he got a pretty nasty ear infection and was running a high fever that didn't want to break. Husband-Man and I have always made a policy of letting our littles sleep with us when they are sick so we can more easily monitor their fevers, coughs, restlessness and just be there for general comfort.

 

Having a family bed has never been an issue for us because we all take comfort from snuggling in with each other. But ever since that ear infection G never went back to his own bed. He had been sick for a week and got so used to being cuddled close that he just never wanted to be away from us. After discussing it Husband-Man and I decided to let things be. We loved his snuggles and knowing he was our last child (we don't plan to have anymore) we wanted to enjoy all of the snuggles and cuddles we could. He was like our very own warm little teddy bear.

 

Sure it made intamacy a little difficult. It's never really any fun to schedule something like that. But our marriage is so good and strong and full of love that we weathered that pretty well.

We've known for a while that it's getting close to time for him to transition to his own bed though. And so we set up a twin size bed in M's room (so he won't feel alone and M wanted him in there with him so he can look out for him) about a month ago. But I still couldn't bear to start transitioning him.

 

He's such a pro at cuddles and hugs and I didn't want to lose the kisses he sometimes gave us in the middle of the night when he woke up from a dream and needed to shift positions. How can you want to give that up? I kept putting it off. "I'll start next weekend," was heard often from my lips. Husband-Man was so patient with me. And I think he was experiencing some of the same anxiety. After all...He's the one who naps with G on occasion throughout the week.

But things changed last weekend... Husband-Man and I decided to go see Gravity (GREAT MOVIE!!!) and have dinner. So we fed the boys dinner and then headed out.

 

 M stayed home with G. He's such a great babysitter. He plays hide and seek and sings and dances with G to all their favorite music. He's a very involved and incredibly engaged big "Brudda". Last weekend they played and ate popcorn and watched movies and sang and danced and then...When G got sleepy M made an executive decision.

Husband-Man and I came home to find both of our beautiful boys asleep in their own beds. G was asleep in his big boy bed for the first time in a year and a half. He's been there ever since.

 

There are some nights he asks for "Brudda" to put him to sleep after I read him his book and sing his songs. "Brudda" comes in and lays down with him until he drifts off to sleep.

 

Occasionally G will cry out in the middle of the night and either Husband-Man or I will go in there and snuggle him up until he goes back to sleep. I think those are the times that we would usually be getting our "in between dreams" kisses. Maybe this will take a bit longer to get G through, but it hasn't been an issue at all. It's a good transition for us in a way too. This way we still get some snuggles. He's usually back to sleep within about three to  five minutes and we return to our bed. After a few extra kisses and snuggles of course.

But really...I can't tell you how blessed I am to have such an awesome oldest son. He's so much more mature than other kids his age. He loves his family and especially his little brother so much. What gets me most about all of this is that he knew I had intentions of transitioning G. But he also knows me so well, that he knew how hard that was going to be for me. I am greedy for any time I can spend with my boys and my M knows how emotional these things can make me. He quietly did what I should have done and hasn't said a word about it since. He just did it.

How in the world did I get so lucky?

 

Have any of you ever co-slept? How did you tranisition away from it? Did it take a long time? Were any of you emotional about it? Please, share your experiences in the comments.

What's in your nutshell?