We are in for it!

Every child has a way of pushing a parent's buttons.  For me, it is bedtime.  I covet those who have easy bedtime routines, where the children, without complaint or struggle just simply go to bed.  We have a 50% batting average on this.  Kate pretty much loves "just going to bed."  There are some nights where she isn't quite as sleepy but it really has never been one of her issues.  Anna on the other hand is a different story all together.  She has had bedtime issues since she was a baby.  I attribute some of it to the fact that we lived with my mom and dad for the first 7 months of Anna's life, so I did not let her cry/soothe herself back to sleep like I did with Kate (aka Babywise).  However, I am not too convinced Anna would have ever been a good Babywise baby because part of it is just her nature.  Anywho, last night, after two weeks of holiday fun and vacation, I was convinced we were hitting the hay early without issue because we just plain out needed to.  I should know better than to think I can control bedtime.  Here is what happened:

After going through our routine of brushing teeth, reading Little House and doing devotions, I tuck my two precious little girls into bed with lots of hugs and kisses.  I go out to the Living Room and browse Pinterest, check email, and prepare in my mind for the startup of school in the morning.  20 minutes later I hear giggling from the bedroom.  Scott comes in a little later and asks if the girls are sleeping.  I told him they have been giggling for the last 20 minutes.  5 minutes later both girls are out in the Living Room with us.  Kate is wide-eyed and bushy-tailed.  Anna is all smiles until she explains how she WAS asleep but Kate woke her up and now she can't get back to sleep and it is all Kate's fault.  The tears begin and my patience wanes as now it is 10:30.  I tell them it is time for bed and say "Goodnight!"  Anna's tears start rolling faster and harder as she continues to blame Kate for waking her up.  Once Anna starts this you have no choice but to listen to every single word even when you "get it."  I lose my temper and tell the girls, as I follow them back to their bedroom, "I am the parent, you are the child.  I say it is bedtime so it is bedtime.  Goodnight!"  Scott comes in to the room to play buffer.  I leave, perplexed, frustrated and tired of the battle that I usually have to fight alone and go into my bedroom to get ready for bed myself.  Scott comes in after talking with the girls and tells me that he explained to them that when I grew up, when it was bedtime it was bedtime.  There was no backtalking, explaining why I couldn't get to sleep, etc.  Anna proceeds to say, "It was different then.  Mommy had her own room.  That was then, this is now.  Things are diffferent Daddy!  Besides, you and Mommy are better parents than they {meaning my parents} were." 

Oh boy....I died laughing!  We are in for it!  Anywho, Scott is my hero!  He talked to me about what I should be concerned about and where to just relax.  We came up with a plan that should work for the girls and me.  He is soooooooooo patient!  Hopefully it works....