Tuesday 13 July 2010

Outwitted

Dolly has a rabbit comforter that she cannot sleep without. For the last couple of weeks, at every bed-time, she has been throwing the rabbit out of her cot gleefully and then sobbing hysterically if Betty does not get out of bed and give it back to her quickly enough. This palaver makes Betty excitable and we hear all sorts of floor-trampolining and squealing up there. The rabbit gets returned and there’s a few seconds’ silence. Tom and I look at each other hopefully. Then there’s a thump and it all begins again.

A couple of nights ago this happened about 300 times before they eventually passed out. Tom wondered if we maybe ought to do something about it. We had tried removing the rabbit and the rest of her cuddly toys from the cot but she was having none of it. The best idea he could come up with was putting Dolly to sleep on the floor so she couldn’t throw the rabbit anywhere. Instead, I spent a few minutes sewing the rabbit onto Dolly's grobag.

Tom said: ‘That is either going to drive her completely nuts or it’s a stroke of genius.’

The next evening we put them to bed and crept out, bracing ourselves for possible chaos. But there was silence. Without the whole rabbit throwing and retrieval circus, they went straight to sleep. Tom and I high-fived each other, drank some cider and praised my parenting skills.

Very very early this morning, we heard a familiar thump followed by a squeal. Dolly had thrown a cuddly seal onto the floor and Betty was on her way over to remedy the situation. Dolly was standing up in her cot with a look of undiluted triumph. I stared at the contents of her cot, bleary eyed, and wondered if there was space to sew fifteen cuddly animals onto her sleeping bag.

11 comments:

Victoria said...

Ha ha...i think thats a stroke of genius..got any ideas how to stop them getting out of bed and banging on the door for me to read her a story?

Louise said...

I think this is a really sweet story. Sisterly love and all that!

As for trying to outwit your children... I gave up along time ago!

Great blog as always!

sadie said...

:O) couple of smart alecs you have there! Kids. I swear to God they are born with an intelligence that adults do not possess. I am sure Gorgeous on can read already. I spell things out to husband in code 'HK' is Hello Kitty stuff, and 'B-A-L-L-O-O-N' is .. ok, you get the idea! ;o) but whenever I use my brilliant code She pipes up 'Hello Kitty Mum' or 'can I have a balloon mum' and I am shocked that she knows not only these words, but my most excellent Top Secret code!!! I too am outwitted on a daily basis. She is much smarter than I ever was, or am likely to be!

Elsie Button said...

hi mummy bear, tell her that if she doesn't stay in bed her special fairy who watches over her will be sad and fly away - this has been a miracle worker with betty!

hi louise, yes they are v v sweet together, most of time - altho they do have their moments.

Elsie Button said...

hi sadie, i am constantly befuddled by a childs smartness. we too have that spelling code, which betty has also cracked. how?? at the age of 3?

Beccers said...

oh no! There'll be no room for Dolly once all those toys are sewn on there! She obviously needed that good night's sleep you gave her by sewing on the bunny to prepare her masterplan with the seal.

V funny & lovely post as always!

Elsie Button said...

hi beccers, where will it stop? - dread to think what other masterplans she is working on...

nixdminx said...

Give up now - they are in league against you! Quite a funny story though - you win one small victory only to be outwitted at the next turn! x

Blissful Mum said...

Very clever! Never thought of sewing my little man's 'mousey' onto his sleeping bag. Would have saved a lot of traipsing up and down the stairs! Helen

Anonymous said...

Awwww this made me chuckle :-)
I now have a vision of a grobag with cuddly toys attached, hehehe.
What a fab idea to sew on the rabbit though, will have to remember that!

Sparx said...

Remember: they are going to be in league against you for the rest of your lives. That's your destiny.

The things my brother and I did to my parents are beyond belief. You have two children; the only way you will outsmart them is if you and Tom concentrate VERY HARD together.

Right, that's your warning.