The Story of the Lior...

Three nights ago Zusha woke up and asked to be let out of the crib because of the Lior. I was half asleep myself so I brushed him off. The next day he told me the following story:
"Mama said Zusha should take the slon (elephant) all day long and Lior came and Lior screamed, 'Slooooooooon!' Then he put a stick in my mouth and then he put a thermometer in my mouth."

I asked him to show me Lior, and he pointed to the knobs that release the drop-rail to his crib. But he claims the Lior is blue, which the knobs are not, and that he has a mouth, ears, feet...

He began to be afraid to go to his room alone. He used to love turning on the light in his room, but now he says, "Lior said Zusha shouldn't, only Mama can."
He dreads going to sleep and says straight out that he doesn't want to -Lior will scream again. He woke up every night since asking to come out. What do I do? I feel so bad for the little guy! He is getting no sleep whatsoever.

The Lior Makes a Comeback

When Zusha was almost three years old, he invented a monster whom he called "Lior." (Posts in the link are in reverse chronological order.)
Basically, it was part of the crib, and we had to get rid of the crib and buy a toddler bed pronto. That was over two years ago, but Zusha never forgot it. Until we sold the crib, any time Zusha would enter the room where it was stored, he'd flee in fright. Eventually he calmed down, but never forgot Lior. He's joke about it with Gedalya, and didn't seem scared at all. Adel's portacrib has the same knobs, and Zusha was always fine with them.

But tonight, he came out of his room, shaking and crying hysterically. He insisted on coming to my bed because there is a Lior in his bed. I tried to convince him to show me where it is. He said that it's in the whole bed, and comes out of the pillow. I suggested to take away the pillow, but he said it won't help.

I couldn't let him into my bed, because Adel was there, so I directed him to the crib. So now we have a five year old sleeping in a portacrib. I've been planning to get the boys a bunk bed sooner or later... looks like it will have to be sooner!

Clever!

What would you do with a roll of easel paper? Would you use it on the easel to draw on it? Boooring!
A more clever idea:
Line a bed with it and play doctor :D





And tonight the boys went to sleep in my room because they were running away from "Shlechte (bad) Tookh Tookh." Ahm.
Zusha took over Hillel's bed while Gedalya nestled in Adel's crib.


I hope this Tookh Tookh business won't blow itself up into Lior proportions. Oy, I don't even want to think in that direction! Actually, Gedalya is the SAME EXACT AGE now as Zusha was when he had Lior issues.

Zusha's New Sleeping Arrangements

It seems to all be falling into place! It looks like I am finally getting my life back.
Since the last post about the Lior, I have completely removed the crib and put the mattress on the floor. That was 3 weeks ago. He slept OK there, but he insisted that either I or Tatte should stay with him. The entire time until he falls asleep. Which could be up to 2 hours. Many times the parent on night duty would fall asleep for the night right there on the floor. Last Shabbos we even missed the whole Friday night meal that way.
Meanwhile we were waiting for the toddler bed that I ordered to arrive. We played it up to Zusha, making it sound like the most exciting thing that could happen. When it finally arrived, it was missing the hardware, which we had to order separately. But when we finally set it up last Thursday, it was a miracle. The answer to my prayers. We told Zusha that now he has to sleep by himself in the new bed. Baruch Hashem he likes it! Now there is some typical "I don't want to sleep" resistance, but nothing horrid like before.
No more walking the streets of Boro Park at full speed trying to lull Zusha to sleep in the stroller. Now all I have to endure is him coming to my bed in the middle of most nights and occasionally falling asleep in my bed as he joins us when I am putting Gedalya to sleep. That I can handle. Let's hope this major crisis has passed.

The Lior is Still Here.

Two nights ago Zusha got hysterical when I tried to put him for a nap, so I let it slide. We did other things instead. I figured I'd put him in early, but the hysterics started up again. Screaming, thrashing, crying, climbing from the crib in terror. I removed the crib rail, making it into a toddler bed. He seemed to like it, but hopped right out crying. I put him back in and put a gate in his doorway. He begged me to let him go because Lor is there. So I did. Eventually he was so worn out that he listened when I said that I chased Lor away and he won't come when Zusha is sleeping.
Yesterday he tried to resist his nap but gave in. Bedtime was also not too bad. But in the middle of the night he woke up 3 or 4 times, crying hysterically that he wants out and to my bed.
Twice he climbed out- for the first time at night. I got 3 nonconsecutive hours of sleep. So did Zusha. But again he went nuts at naptime. My mother came to take him out and he slept 1/2 hour in the stroller with her. Bedtime was not bad cuz I promised him a new toy, and gave it to him on the condition that he stays in bed.

I've tried everything! Ordering the monster to leave, etc... He is still terrified.
Don't forget that I have another child who is being quite neglected through all this.
I have to add that all 4 of us are sick. I am NOT coping.
I am ready to order him a toddler bed, as I tried the mattress on the floor thing, but he still pops up in an instant.