Extinction

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Usually a negative word associated with animal species. In our case: a necessary and painful method of solving a new sleep problem. It would seem that someone has decided that he doesn't want to go to bed. And so he screams until we come in, at which point he promptly stops and starts chanting "book, book, book". He had our number. Until today, at which point there will be no "positive reinforcement" (i.e. we ignore the screaming) and he will eventually (I hope he's a quick learner) realize that no one is coming to read him more books until the morning.
I plan on spending my evenings on the pool deck- it's the only place you can't hear him. Pity the neighbors.