Bedtime Woes at 10
Every single night my 10 year old falls apart at bedtime. She can be in a great mood up until her feet hit the stairs to go upstairs, then everything crumbles. She starts to complain about her day at school, issues with friends, then her stomach hurts, her foot is itching, and the grand finale every night is getting her pillows fixed the "right" way.
The pillows is really what is the worst part. On the rare occasion everything goes smoothly on the way to bed it will inevitably fall apart with the two pillows she sleeps with. They are never right the first time no matter what, she insists I readjust them, fluff them multiple times. Sometimes they are too close to the edge. It's a ridiculous debacle every night and I am tired of it. We have tried buying her 3 different pillows. I brought her to the store to pick out her own and we always end up returning them because she hates them. We have tried one pillow, no pillows, nothing satisfies her.
At this point I think it's a control thing. Sometimes I think she is studying my face and reaction each time she complains/whines that it isn't comfortable and wants me to fix it again, but maybe I am overthinking that. Sometimes I lose my cool like tonight. I told her I am not doing this every night and she needs to figure it out for herself. I left her room because I couldn't take the whining anymore and she proceeded to throw a big fit. I ignored her and sent my husband in to deal with it. She was crying she wanted me but I didn't budge. He stayed with her until she fell asleep. Of course I now feel guilty for losing my cool. I know she was exhausted from school and her after school activities. I really am at my whits end though with the pillows. This is definitely a vent but if anyone has any ideas or suggestions I am open to hearing them.