My Big Girl Room

So, it happened.
Just like that.
J has been sleeping in her own room for a little while now.
Her room. She was quite clear about this.

We have not talked much about moving J into her own room since her birth; we are so used to having her in our room. We did think about beds and future room arrangements but we didn't think it would be this soon. It always ended with "We'll see how it goes." And we secretly enjoy having our baby in the same room as us. Probably Primary School, I thought.

Then the air conditioner in our bedroom started doing it's "drip-drop-drip" and it's as though we are used to the drill, we packed our pillows and blankets and camped in the playroom instead.
It was fun, to be honest, even for me.
But when the air-conditioner was finally fixed, J decided that she wanted to stay in the playroom.

I accompanied her for two nights before I bailed out on her. There was only one floppy mattress in the playroom which obviously goes to J. Sleeping on the playmat is better than the hardwood floors, but not so much fun for my back either.

"If you want to sleep in the playroom, Momma will have to go back to my own bed after you fall asleep. My back hurts."
"Okay."
"Then you will have to come in and let me know if you want the potty or milk. I wouldn't be able to hear you if you just call out to me."
"Okay."
"You sure you're okay?
"Yes."
Wow. Okay then!

It was about time. J is outgrowing her cot and with her constant kicks and flip-flopping at nights, the cot is falling apart (really, the sides aren't secure anymore) and she is probably not enjoying all the bumps on her arms, legs and head.
That night, we settled her to sleep and went off to our bedroom.
I was quite worried - I didn't know how she would respond to the dark. I wouldn't have responded well to it.

We kept waking to check on her. She didn't wake for anything on the first night, but she woke up earlier than we did in the morning to go to the bathroom. That look on her face. That "I did it, momma" smile. I gave her a hug and told her that she really is a big girl now for sleeping in her own bedroom. We did that each morning as an encouragement. I try to praise her efforts as much as possible. Until we were certain that she is really going to sleep in her own room, we got her a new mattress that would be better for her back. She liked having a new mattress - so proud of it like something she has earned.

It's been almost a week now.
She has woken once for milk, pretty much awake.
She has woken many times to use the potty. The last, she didn't even walk to my bed anymore.
It was just "Mama, potty, " and I hear the bathroom doors open.

Every time we return to her room, she has to have me beside her until she falls asleep.
A couple of times I didn't and she walked back to pull me back into her room.
Even though it's a major milestone for J to sleep in her own room, we are still taking baby steps.
As of now, we still stay in the room until she's fast asleep.
And will continue to do so.
Because, you never know. They grow fast.
Maybe soon, she won't need us anymore.