Last week was a tough week for Hudson. I thought that by having boys I was going to be able to avoid the arguing and bickering, but I was very wrong.
Hudson didn’t nap for three days last week. He actually did fine when he wasn’t napping. He stayed in his room and played very quietly. The lights were still out and his white noise was still playing, but he just never went to sleep. He just played and sang songs and talked to his stuffed animals.
But when 5:30 or 6:00 came around and before TC got home, he began to melt down. Crying at the drop of a hat. Screaming when he didn’t get his way or if Hayes looked at him funny.
It was clear that I had to stay consistent with enforcing nap time and that, hopefully, he would actually sleep during nap time again someday.
I discovered that to push through the tantrums in the “witching hour” every night, we had to get creative. I had to come up with a way to get his mind off of how tired and cranky he was and make him laugh.
And that’s where Adam Levine and Maroon 5 come in. (We can also thank our friends at Disney, Elizabeth Mitchell and Oh Susanna, and Bob Marley.)
But this week it was Moves Like Jagger.
We had our living room dance party and waved our hands in the air. And waved ’em like we just don’t care.
I showed Hudson my moves and he showed me his.
He has no idea who Mick Jagger is or what Jagger’s moves are.
In fact, he call him “Dragger.” He asks, “Dance to ‘Dragger’?” So we do. We listen to the song on repeat for about 20 minutes every night. And Hudson loves it!
I even taught him how to do “the swim” and he sings along while holding his nose and waving his arms in the air.
So that’s our little gimmick. It’s a distraction for all of us and it carries us over into bath time and bed time. Thank goodness for edited/toddler-appropriate versions of pop songs!
Our new night time routine includes supper, “Moves Like Dragger,” bath time, books, and bed.
*P.S. If it weren’t for Glee I wouldn’t even know about this song. Our music choices in the car are limited to Disney tunes and whatever I’m working on for children’s choir. Thank you, Glee, for helping me stay with it.
This is the cutest thing ever! And what a clever, hip mommy 🙂
Haha! We do pre-bath dance time at our house. Current #1 request: Adele’s “Rumor Has It.” My boys love the foot stomping and clapping to the beat!
Hudson has gotten so tall! It’s so interesting to watch the kids grow up.
Cute post.
I’m reading this at work (bad) and I’m dying. This is too funny! I love his hand out move & his leg kick move!
This is SO cute and I love the pictures!
Love this!
I love this idea! Kaden (29 months) is going through something similar and the hours right before bed are particularly difficult. Might just have to try some “Moves Like Dragger” at our house!
Oh, that time when they are fighting their nap is SO tough. I can’t remember now when Benjamin gave up his nap completely but I still miss it. That 5-6 time can be really difficult. I’m glad you found a way to make it through! Often times for me, if I can just make Benjamin laugh or even smile, things turn around. P.S. We are also loving “Moves Like Jagger” right now.
I love this idea and must steal! =) We’ve had a weekend full of not enough sleep for my almost 3 year old… and we all knew about it… plus the neighbors. Haha! A dance party sounds like a great idea, and at this point I’ll try anything!
We love our Dance Party hour! My husband came up with this to entertain our daughter. Sometimes it’s just before bed and gets her perfectly tired out. Sometimes it’s first thing Saturday morning while I doze and listen from upstairs. Nate turns on Pandora, and flips stations till Laura agrees to a catchy song. The minute a boring one comes up, she stops and says “I don like it.” Time to move on!
They are both getting so big and are so cute!! Love the singing and the dancing. So fun
Look at those cuties! Hayes is growing up so fast! Such a cute little guy!
This absolutely made my day! I just can’t get over how perfect the action shot is in the first photo, with his hand up and his little New Balance-clad toe pop and all… The best. I would love to see video of this! Way to go with the creative parenting ideas, mama! xoxo
So so fun!! We love having dance time at our house too. Great stress reliever and so fun for the kiddos to see everyone having fun being silly.
This is so cute! I love that first action shot!
I feel like we are living parallel lives! my FB status a couple of days ago stated that my 3 1/2 year old, Christopher, loves to gyrate around the house belting out “He’s got the moves like Jagga (Jagger)!” These kids are TOO much! 😉
That is too cute! The boy has got some moves!!!
That is too cute! You are such a creative mom and how fun for Hudson to be learning some dance moves! That first pic of Hayes is adorable by the way!
He’s so cute. And you’re a great mom for figuring out how to keep him from melting down!
I love the you learned about this song through “Glee.” That’s the only way that I hear most new songs too!
SO CUTE!!!! I love dance parties….so much fun, a good work out and kids LOVE it. Great idea! Ps-Hayes is getting so big–he has hair!
My 4 year old gave up nap time about 5 months ago. I still make her “rest” by reading books or quiet play. But no more nap 🙁
We have friends with a son named Jagger. My 2 year old thinks that “Moves Like Jagger” is about our friend Jagger! It’s funny! Jagger is actually one of a set of quads. He never names any of the other quads’ names. It’s always, “Jagger’s house” or Jagger’s this or that. I always say, “What about the others?” I think it has something to do with the song:)
CLEVER! Mostly, today, I just needed to hear that someone else with a 3 year old boy deals with whiny behavior from time to time. Whew. It’s been a rough day.
How adorable 🙂 Dance parties are the BEST!
Warning – You and Hudson may be doing this 30 years from now! My mother and I work together and when the day gets stressful, we have a “dance break.” We have upbeat songs ready and waiting to brighten our day. I may be in my thirties, but I still get cranky sometimes 🙂
Oh, this is so adorable! Made my night. 🙂 I just love him!
What a CUTE post and creative props to you!
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Oh my goodness, this is potentially the cutest thing EVER!!! What a great memory you two will have of this!
Oh em gee this is so funny and so cute! Gotta love Glee for introducing us to all sorts of music 😉
cute!! Is it me or did Hudson SPROUT up and Hayes(completely you) get hair?? They are getting so big..I love Hudson’s moves! LOL!
I wish we could have a dance party together. That is awesome! haha
The Kidz Bop CD’s are wonderful for this!! All the popular songs but with appropriate lyrics and kids voices. My kids do a “show” to one of these pretty much every day. Love them!!!
He looks SO cute in that little sweater ! I love his moves! What a great post and a creative fun momma you are! The more I read your blog the more I love it!