Have you ever considered tying up your child and locking them in their own room?
Aslynn has been into EVERYTHING lately. What a goof. She also doesn't know how to stay in bed at night. She'd rather be awake and kicking the wall, or in Micah's room, or emptying her drawers. She has emptied them several times. Nightly. Do we just leave the clothes on the floor or hang them all in her closet? Never mind. The closet can't keep the clothes in any more than it can hold Aslynn in. That's right, she sleeps in the closet. On her own bed? No, she now sleeps on a foam mattress in hopes that one day she will make her way back there. The bed is in the corner, she's in the closet. Or in Micah's room. Or the hallway.
We're seriously considering a lock on the outside of her door! And she's been talking as much as ever. Often understandable, and yet there are so many moments where she's in her own little world and her own little language. I ought to tell you about her little friend named 'Gabby'. She's imaginary. We didn't name her, and Aslynn doesn't know anyone by that name, so we think it's really cute, funny, and appropriate for her. Gabby. That's a good one...
Her idea of a good joke is this: "Knock knock" "Who's there?" "Gabby" "Gabby who?" "Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Of course, we're laughing at her, not with her. The joke isn't that funny. Neither is hearing the pitter patter of little feet waltzing into our bedroom in the middle of the night one too many times. She's still a sweetheart, but a definite turkey. Where can I find a lock , or should I simply turn her doorknob backwards?
We may wish to deadbolt the front door, too. She decided to go for a stroll. Out the door, down the sidewalk, along the street, and around the corner. I swear she would have just kept walking if Faith hadn't felt the breeze and went looking. She would likely have figured it was time to go home at some point and realize she was lost. AND she was in Micah's shoes because they are easier to wear and Faith lifted her rrrrright out of them. Yeah, definitely getting more locks!
We might have assumed she was just hiding had the door not been open. She has gotten very good. It used to be that she would stand in plain sight and say, "Where's Aslynn?" (like she did this afternoon hiding by our bedroom door behind the jamb). She now puts blankets or stuffed animals over her head and becomes invisible. And, here's the kicker, she's QUIET! No 'Here I am's, you call her name, and she goes into stealth mode. And she's good, too! Micah is predictable; Aslynn is crafty. He will hide under a bed and kick his feet. She will hide ON the bed and become the Chameleon Child. Again, can we lock her up?
I don't know. Is locking her up cruel? Or will she learn to stay in her room (and sleep), in the house (and out of traffic), and out of trouble?
- Mark
