This Is What I Get For Trying To Do The Right Thing

Lovebug spent most of last night screaming. He would calm down when I went into his room, but he still wasn't happy. We asked him if anything hurt, if he wanted this or that and he always answered no. We'd cuddle him and then put him in the crib and leave the room. He would scream and instead of falling asleep as he usually does, he would grow louder and louder. So loud that I would go back in to check on him. Finally, I put him down and searched his crib to see if anything in it could be hurting him. He toddled over to his books and brought me one. Apparently my son woke up at midnight because I didn't read him enough stories before bed.

I remember when he didn't like stories at bed time. At six and seven months, he had no interest. Ironflower loved to be read to immediately, but I worried about Lovebug. I read to him despite his lack of interest - some nights he would only let me read while he breastfed. But about six months ago, he finally started to be interested in books. He began choosing what books we read and actually listening as I read them.

So naturally the one area where I felt like a good mom has backfired. Lovebug is now obsessed with bedtime books. At nearly twenty months he is already a bookworm. Last night I read him an extra story, then explained that it was WAY PAST bedtime and he had to go to sleep. He screamed for twenty minutes straight. But I held out because I knew all he wanted was another book. I peeked at him right after the screaming stopped. He was asleep.

I am dreading this evening.