someone to watch over me

Our imaginative Kyle seems a bit less fearful these days, with one glaring caveat: he doesn't like to be alone. He refuses to go up to his room if no one else will be upstairs with him. He hates to be left downstairs if he'll be by his lonesome there. It usually isn't a problem; I don't mind him joining me while I change Owen's diaper, nor do I argue if he asks to bring his clothes downstairs and get dressed near me while I fix breakfast.

It is a problem, however, during quiet time and bedtime. Oh, bedtime is fairly peaceful...until Benjamin falls asleep. They share a room, you see (sometimes a blessing and sometimes a headache), and Kyle will stay in his room happily enough these days...until his big brother falls asleep. And Ben almost always falls asleep first. Then Kyle comes down the stairs, tired, cross, and, of course, scared. He says that he doesn't want to be up there if Ben won't open his eyes, he needs a "gwown-up" to be with him. Two nights ago we gave him hugs and convinced him to go back upstairs to bed. A few minutes later we heard him screaming at his brother "Ben, wake up! Wake up, Ben! I'm scared!" Poor Benjamin did wake up, completely startled and confused. Oh, the joy of sharing a room with a three-year-old...

And quiet time? Well, the last few days Kyle has been taking comfort in a companion of a different sort: our cat, Cassie. Kyle had been pretty indifferent to the cat until just recently, but now he has decided that she is sufficient company when he's out of options. So at naptime, quiet time, he insists that she be with him, and only then will he curl up and sleep. On Mommy & Daddy's bed, no less.

But hey, at least he's sleeping.