Get Back In Your Toddler Bed

I write this post at 2am because my son has started to develop bad sleeping habits. As a parent you know that at any age that effacts you as well, especially when your child is a 15 month old toddler. We are expecting our second son in just 3 short months. So our first has been in transition out of the nursery into his big boy room. He has a toddler bed that he has been sleeping in just fine, until the ladt week or 2. He has figured out that he can get out of his bed whenever he wants.

I decided that if letting him "cry it out" worked in the crib then it may be worth a shot in his big boy room. We have a monitor and anything hazardous like his night light is in full view so we know he is safe. Tonight I shut the door when we put him in bed and after 2 times of crying at his door for less then 2 minutes he put himself in bed and pulled his covers up over himself. SUCESS!!!

The night progresses, we get up with him 2 or 3 times and began playing the same game... Finally, I told my husband that I needed him to trust me. Our son's bedroom door was closed so I decided to let him cry it out. He cried then went and put himself in bed. He did this twice and he is now sleeping. SUCCESS!!!

As I was watching the monitor and waiting God showed me that often times this is what we do.

We are just like my toddler. We may be going through something that we don't like or even understand. We have gotten out of out safe place with God, out toddler bed, and we're at the bedroom door just crying!! Like my toddler who had no idea mommy was watching and very alert to his needs, we feel alone and are wondering where our Heavenly Father is and why is he not opening the door to pick us up and us back in bed?!

It is hard listening to your child cry, even for God. Maybe God is not answering our cry because He's eaiting for us to go climb back up in bed ourselves. A wise pastor once told me, "God will not do for you what you can do for yourself." Take this trial like Paul teaches us, with thanksgiving and praise!

Whatever your hurt is today, remember to give it to God! Stand strong in faith and be alert to the tasks God may need you to do on your own!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford