Wow, talk about a parenting fail.

Earlier this month Oscar’s first tooth came through.  He got the second one, just days later.  And I precisely remember noting to myself as I cuddled him when he was having a hard time with it, “I’ll never forget what teething cries sound like.”

Well, I forgot.

For the past two nights, he’s had a really hard time going to bed. He just didn’t want to. He was SO tired, but just didn’t want to lay down.  I cuddled extra long with him.  I read him some more stories. I walked around the neighbourhood with him.  I cuddled again.  I shhhh’d him and rubbed his back.  I let him stay up longer. 

And then, at my wit’s end, I plunked him in his bouncy chair and turned on Baby Genius.  Finally, almost TWO HOURS after his bedtime, TWO HOURS of trying to put him down, he went to bed exhasuted and without incident.

I couldn’t stand the fact that I had plunked him down in front of a dvd.  And I had alot of guilt around that.

Fast forward 12 hours.  I’m feeding him thismorning and he looks up at me and smiles.

What do I see?

Two top teeth.

The little dude was TEETHING again.  No bloody WONDER he didn’t want to lay down.  And I missed it AGAIN.  Didn’t clue in AGAIN.

On the bright side?  I no longer feel guilty about plunking him down in front of Baby Genius.  I think I’m the best mother in the world for letting her child stay up late and watch TV when he wasn’t feeling well.