Stalling Tactics

Children hate to go to sleep. Theres just too much to see, play and do, you see. Mine are no exception. Here's a stalling tactic by my girl during naptime. (These days she is beggining to be more and more caught up with pretend play.)


MG: Ok. Time to sleep. (Says to my girl after putting sleeping baby down on his side of the bed. I sleep in the middle between them both.)
My Girl: I want to water the flowers. (Walks all over the bed with her toy watering can pretending to water the flowers on the bedsheet)
MG: Ok. 3 times only then go to sleep. (3 is my magic number because its her favourite number. Most of the time I can get her to stop whatever she's doing or finish her food etc by saying 3 times only.)

After a while......

My Girl: Mummy, can I water the flowers some more. Its dried up already. (Pointing to the flowers on the bedsheet)
MG: Ok. When you're finished, go to sleep.

After a while.......

MG: Time to sleep. Enough already.
My Girl: Mummy, I want to water some more. The flowers not yet grow.
MG: Ok (Then goes back to reading magazine. No point in forcing her to sleep when she's not sleepy. Or in other words, just too plain lazy and tired to argue or nag her to go to sleep.)

After a while.......

My Girl: Mummy, can you hold the watering can for me? My hands tired. My hands need a rest. Then I can hold my bear bear. (Then she lies down beside me, picks up her beanie bear and smiles.)

Immediately after that.....

My Girl: Bear bear walking up to look at the flowers (walks her beanie bear up my pillow.)
My Girl: Mummy, I want to water the flowers for bear bear. (takes back the toy watering can from me)

Plays with the toy watering can AND beanie bear for a while.....

My Girl: Mummy, I put my head on the pillow but I don't want to close my eyes (Lies down beside me again)

A Minute later.......

My Girl: zzzzzzzzzzz