Mommy Broke Mine Jammies

Gavin hadn't worn a sleeper with footies in over a year. Not because I had anything against them, but because 2 springs ago I found him 6 sets of Carters 2 piece pajamas for .50 a set at a garage sale, and since they were lightweight he wore them through the summer, and since they were long sleeved he wore them through the winter, then again this summer, but they were really getting too small by the time this winter set in.

But he loved them, and didn't like other jammies, so he kept wearing them.

This week I bought a package of Gerber blanket sleepers because he really *had* to have new pajamas.

And they were on sale.

We put them on and he fussed and pulled at the feet and called them yucky, but we convinced him they were okay and he went to sleep.

But he was up over and over through the night. Had bad dreams and cried. Screamed for Mommy. Screamed at Daddy when Daddy tried to take the "yucky" jammies off. Screamed at Mommy when Mommy put the "yucky" jammies back on. Then slept on the floor in our room for the last 3 hours of the night.

Quinn, the next night, said "I'm *sure* the feet on his pajamas gave him bad dreams last night. They always made me claustrophobic, so I completely understand."
Me: "Yeah, me too. Mom always cut the feet off of my sleepers because I couldn't stand them. Maybe I should do that for him."
Q: "That might work. We can try that."

An hour later we got him ready for bed, in his sleeper, but I had forgotten to cut the feet off, so I ran and got some scissors then walked back to the bedroom, because if you're gonna break a rule and run with scissors, you sure as heck can't break it within sight of your two year old.

I picked up his foot that he was picking at and griping about and started to cut the feet off.

Q: "What are you doing??"
Me: "Cutting the feet off."
Gavin: "Mom?"
Q: "Now?"
G: "Mom?"
Me: "Yes, of course! It should make him glad to have his feet free. "
Q: "Well that's just traumatic."
G: "Mom!"
Me: "What baby?"
G: "Mom! You broke mine jammies!!"

And he started sobbing.

Q: "I told you that was traumatic. How are you gonna fix this?"
G: "Mommy! Tape mine jammies!"

So off came the jammies and I went after a new set while Quinn sang comforting songs to our traumatized child.

As I zipped the new sleeper onto my toddler he scowled at me and shook his head.

G:"These are new jammies."
Me: "Yes, they are."
G: Mommy broke mine jammies."
Me: "But your new jammies aren't broken."
G: "Tape mine jammies, Mommy."
Me: "See your nice new jammies?"
G: "Mommy. Tape mine jammies."

We haven't seen the broken jammies again, but I fixed the problem. He's been delighted to sleep in fully intact footie sleepers for the entire week, with no nightmares.

Q: "I have very distinct memories of my parents 'fixing' things that I love, and me being completely heartbroken because they ruined them.'
Me: "yes dear."
Q: "Please don't traumatize our kid anymore. If you have to fix something, don't let him see it!"