The Procrastinations of a Two-Year-Old

My daughter has hit that phase where she has learned that life goes on outside of her bedtime. And she doesn’t like it at all. We have now embarked on new territory which is the Quick! Stall Mom Before She Notices It’s My Bedtime Phase. I have to hand it to her–she’s creative! The other night went something like this:

Daughter: Mom, I need a drink.
Me: You’re fine. Now go to sleep. Kiss!
Daughter: Um, I have to go to the bathroom.
Me: You just went. Goodnight.
Daughter: Mom! Mom! I have to show you something. (She jumps up on her bed and points to a needlepoint sampler). What’s that?
Me: It’s a giraffe. Goodnight.
Daughter: I need another kiss. (sloppy toddler kiss)
Me: Now go to sleep.
Daughter: Another hug?

Now toddlers are master manipulators. They know just how to mess with you and make you feel like a rotten person if you don’t give them one extra hug or kiss. They can fling themselves into a dramatic fit, sobbing that they need you to cover them up with a special blankie. And of course, I’m aware that this is all part of the Master Stalling Plot.

Do your kids have any strange bedtime routines, aka Stalling? Or what did you do when you were a kid? I used to read in bed when I wasn’t supposed to.