Okay, so remember when I mentioned that I still use a monitor in L.’s bedroom?

For the most part, it’s a good thing.

But there’s been a down-side, too. Months ago (I can’t even remember how many, because the sleep-deprivation caused pockets of memory loss and insanity in my brain), my sweet little 3-year-old learned how to play his mama.

See, I’m pretty tough when it comes to bedtime. My kids go to bed at when it’s their bedtime. And they’re expected to stay there all night, slumbering peacefully in their beds. And letting Mommy and Daddy slumber peacefully in their own.

I don’t do that to be Mean Mommy. Instead, I’ve found that, in this house, when we stick to those guidelines, the kids are better-rested (and so am I!) and more pleasant during the day (and so am I!). So that’s how we roll. It works for us.

L. knows the rules. And he’s pretty much gone along with them.

But one night, he had a bad dream. He called out for me and I came running. I soothed him, cuddled with him, talked to him, tucked him back in, and went back to bed.

And something clicked in his mind.

Uh-oh.

Mysteriously, L. started having “bad dreams” (even though he suddenly forgot them right away) or “trouble with my covers” every night. Yes, every night. Often, multiple times. He had found a work-around, a way to get Mommy to come to his room, and enjoy some social time, without technically breaking any of the “sleep rules.”

I’d stumble into his room, soothe, comfort, fix, tuck, and implore him to sleep until morning, and then return to my bed. Where I tossed and turned, restless, convinced he would be calling me again before dawn’s light. Which he often did.

Finally, after months of interrupted sleep, increasing levels of grumpiness, and growing desperation, I made a decision: something had to be done. It had become clear that this was not a matter of L. needing me (which I would certainly have responded to), but rather a matter of him deciding that a few middle-of-the-night visits, every night, sounded like a good idea.

During a weekend Mommy-only excursion to Panera, I brainstormed, and decided to make The Chart.

See, a new Veggie Tales DVD was coming out this month — Pistachio. And L. had been telling us for weeks that he couldn’t wait until March, because Pistachio was coming. I knew there had to be a way to use this fact to my advantage.

Behold:

When I got home, I presented L. with a deal: You go 10 nights without calling me (unless you’re sick or need to use the bathroom, or actually have a bad dream), and you’ll get the new Pistachio DVD.

L.’s response? Sold! He was in, all the way.

The first morning, he came running into my room.

“Mommy, Mommy! I didn’t call you!”

I gave him a hug, told him what a great job he did, and presented him with a sticker, which he proudly affixed to the Day 1 spot.

Day after day, he got a sticker. And exactly 10 days after we started, he got the DVD.

He. was. thrilled.

And now, I’m thrilled. It’s been almost two weeks since he earned the DVD, and he continues to sleep through the night. Which means that I’ve been sleeping through the night. It’s wonderful! The habit begun with the help of the chart has stuck.

I know the night will come when he calls me again somewhere around 3:00 a.m. But that’s okay. I’m really not a cold-hearted mom. I’m happy to comfort or help my kids during the night. I just function much better when it’s not every single night.

And I’ll keep this chart idea in mind for future motivation issues as well. I admit, I didn’t really think it would work with L. After all, he’s been known to be more than a little strong-willed. But it seems that a daily sticker and an anticipated reward were just the thing to help all of us start sleeping well again.