It is the little things

Last night I went into my son's room while he was sleeping to check on him one more time before I went to bed.  I ususally give the boys one more kiss while they are sleeping.  As I left the dark room that didn't have a night light on or any music on.... I had a moment.   And then I had to stop and think...

When he first came to us, age 2, he would be placed in his crib and we would sing and rock him to sleep, but he would not go to sleep.  He stayed awake, part of what he had learn in the orphanage and he was a baby with an on switch./ fear (?).. he took hours to go to sleep.  Early childhood told us to leave him alone and he would go to sleep.. :( 

Then he was 5 and we had attachment issues or so we thought.  I started laying with him until he would fall asleep.  I would be with him for hours.... sometimes two hours and sometime as quickly as an half hour.  It all depended on his day however, he really could not communicate this too me.

By 7, we gave up and just brought him into our room to sleep.  He slept at my side of the bed and when he awoke I would be right there for him.  His brother thought this was great and quickly joined the camp out in our room.  They stayed for over a year in our bedroom.  Two boys felt better sleeping on our floor and feeling safe and happy.  Josh even wonder where his wife and kids would sleep.:)

By 9, we moved Brandon and his brother into a sleeping room.  They shared a room just for sleep,  there were no toys or personal stuff.  Just the books they read at night, their radio alarm clocks and a night light to share.  They slept in that room and when they would complain about each other we would just say, well you have your own room.  This kept them together until they were ready.

He will be turning 11 in March, he is now sleeping in his own room, in his own bed and without a night light or noises.  He is sleeping... still have waking up issues (another post) but less and less.  He is very proud of himself and so am I.  He is growing up.... makes me kind of sad and happy.  Yes, Josh likes sleeping in his own room with his own stuff... (but still has a night light) :)