All Hail Sticker Charts

So we have gotten into the BADDDDD habit of letting the munchkin sleep in "Mommy's Big Bed". This is, of course, after spending a small fortune on her kickass bed .... had we known she would end up sleeping in our bed, we could have just bought her a sleeping bag. Or a cot. Or stick her in a drawer. (I kid, I kid, don't call CPS.)

Well, discussing sleeping in her bed, pleading, begging ... yeah, means nothing to a four year old. When we bring it up, she basically is all "blah blah blah, I can't hear you, I can't hear you!" And then laughs. Mocking us, I know it.

So, then the teacher in me thought about doing a sticker chart for her .... I am ALLLL about bribery. Bribery gets stuff DONE. For those not in the know, sticker charts work like this: There is a paper with 10 squares in it. For every night she sleeps in her bed, she gets a sticker. Once the chart is full (10 stickers), she gets to pick a toy. She has been asking for a Mariposa Barbie, so I thought this might be a good way to get her to "earn" the Barbie.

I was not sure if she would really go for this, because my child is not known for her patience. She is VERY like her mother in that regard - Neither of us like delayed gratification or waiting for things. BUT, I brought it up and she was GUNG HO. I did not have to explain it very much either. I think she heard "Mariposa Barbie" and was all, "yeah, whatever lady, I'll jump through your hoops and get my stinking $30 toy. Now be quiet and cook my chicken nuggets."

She was even ASKING to go to bed early. But don't be fooled - that doesn't mean she actually WENT to sleep at a reasonable hour. That will be our next sticker chart if this one keeps working - please child, go to bed sometime before the sun rises.

We are taking baby steps - I had to sleep with her for a little bit, but she stayed in her bed. She did wake up sometime in the middle of the night crying, but Brian went to get her and she did not want to get in bed with us because she wanted a sticker. So he stayed with her for a couple minutes, then left her in her bed (still awake). She ended up in the guest room with him for a couple hours though - he felt guilty leaving her in case she was scared. Awww. When I went to get her this morning, the first thing she said was "Do I get a sticker?" Hysterical. I told her she did, and she was OVER THE MOON! Fingers crossed this keeps up ... I am tired of sleeping with feet in my face. Seriously.