When Mu Mu was just over two years old, Pei Kuang had already started thinking about having him sleep in a separate room. But it wasn't until the day after the little guy's third birthday that he officially started implementing it.
That night, avoiding Song Anan, Pei Kuang took Mu Mu to the study, saying he wanted to have an exclusive father-son talk. Kids are naturally curious, and Mu Mu was no exception. As soon as they entered the study, he blinked his big round eyes and eagerly asked, "Dad, what do you want to tell me?"
Pei Kuang smiled and rubbed his head, mysteriously saying, "Mu Mu, you're three years old today. Dad announces that you're a big boy now."
Mu Mu's eyes suddenly lit up. "Really, Dad? I'm really a big boy now?"
Pei Kuang gave another affirmative answer: "That's right, Mu Mu is a big boy now. Are you happy?"
Mu Mu nodded his little head vigorously: "Happy!"
Kids always look forward to growing up, so just becoming a "big boy" from a "little boy" could make him happy for a long time. But the little guy had no idea what becoming a big boy would mean.
Pei Kuang's mouth twitched slightly, his tone a little coaxing, "Now that Mu Mu is a big boy, you can't sleep with Dad and Mom anymore. Starting tonight, you'll sleep in your own room."
Mu Mu let out an "Ah," and his smile froze on his face.
So big boys couldn't sleep with Dad and Mom anymore? He suddenly felt conflicted.
"But Dad, you're a big boy too. So you can sleep with Mom, right?" Mu Mu asked in confusion.
Pei Kuang tapped his little head and explained with a smile, "That's because Mom is Dad's wife. We should sleep together."
Mu Mu frowned, still not understanding why they should sleep together.
"Did you sleep by yourself when you were three, Dad?" He looked up and asked.
"Of course," Pei Kuang nodded matter-of-factly. "Dad started sleeping alone when he was two."
When Mu Mu heard this, his eyes widened in awe. "Wow, Dad is so awesome!"
Pei Kuang raised his eyebrows. "Just okay. Mu Mu is awesome too. Can you do it?"
"I can!" The little guy pumped his fist resolutely. "If Dad can do it, Mu Mu can definitely do it too!"
Pei Kuang stroked his head and encouraged, "Dad knew it, our Mu Mu is the best!"
Just like that, the father and son reached an agreement smoothly.
Mu Mu hopped out of the study, still shouting that he was going to tell Mom.
Pei Kuang followed behind him, shaking his head with a smile. This silly son, with just a preschool diploma, wouldn't be so easy to fool.
After taking a bath, Song Anan came out of the bedroom and couldn't find the father and son anywhere. But she saw them coming out of the study from afar.
"What were you doing in the study?" She asked puzzledly.
Mu Mu ran over happily, "Mom, I'm going to sleep by myself tonight."
Song Anan was stunned. Sleep alone?
It was as she thought.
She looked at Pei Kuang behind instinctively. Pei Kuang smiled lightly and nodded, "We agreed he'll sleep in the nursery tonight."
Song Anan was stunned for a moment before reacting belatedly. No wonder he had the aunt tidy up the nursery this afternoon.
So this was what he was waiting for.
Pei Kuang had brought up separating Mu Mu's bedroom several times before, but Song Anan still felt he was too young and hadn't relented. She didn't expect him to go around her and talk to Mu Mu this time.
However, seeing the little guy so excited, she couldn't say anything more.
After all, it was normal for a three-year-old to start sleeping separately.
The two helped carry Mu Mu's little pillow and little quilt over. Seeing the refreshed nursery, the little guy was obviously very excited.
"Mom, this is my room from now on, right?" Mu Mu asked.
Song Anan smiled. "Yes, you're in charge of this room from now on."
Mu Mu jumped up in joy again, "Yay!"
After marveling for a while, it was time to sleep. Mu Mu obediently lay in his little bed and covered himself with his little quilt.
Pei Kuang told him a bedtime story, while Song Anan listened with him.
This was no different from before, so until he fell asleep, Mu Mu felt nothing unusual. After all, other than changing rooms, nothing else had changed.
After the little guy's breathing became steady, Pei Kuang and Song Anan tiptoed out of his room.
The nursery was right across from their bedroom. It was designed that way originally for ease of care when separating his bedroom.
Back in the bedroom, Song Anan had a somewhat lost look.
Ever since Mu Mu was born, they had basically slept with him, so suddenly separating felt a bit unusual.
Song Anan had heard before that sometimes it wasn't the child who couldn't leave the parents, but more often the parents who couldn't leave the child.
Looking at it now, it seemed to be true.
Seeing Song Anan's appearance, Pei Kuang couldn't help but shake his head.
He poked her nose and chuckled, "What's wrong, can't bear to part?"
Song Anan sighed, "A little. I suddenly feel like Mu Mu is growing up so fast."
He was already three years old in the blink of an eye.
Pei Kuang could probably understand her feelings. Sometimes when he looked at Mu Mu, he also felt that the child changed every day.
He put his arm around her and said solemnly, "Anan, letting go is essential for us as parents. This is just the beginning, there will be much more in the future, and we have to start getting used to it slowly."
Now it was just separating bedrooms. In the future, he would have his own circle of friends. When he grew older, he would have his own girlfriend and his own family.
And they, as parents, would learn to gradually exit his life at the right times.
Song Anan naturally understood this principle. Her eldest brother and sister-in-law had been like this with her and Song Linchuan. She just hadn't adjusted for the moment.
"Well, I understand, I'll adjust slowly." She said.
Pei Kuang murmured in acknowledgment, holding her palm, "It's okay, you still have me. I'll always be with you."
Song Anan nodded lightly in his arms, "Me too."
Regarding separating the child's bedroom, Pei Kuang had also done a lot of research beforehand.
For example, the optimal age for separate bedrooms was 3 to 5 years old. At this age, children develop gender differences in cognition, and separate bedrooms can nurture independence and correct gender perceptions.
As for why he had brought this up with Song Anan before, it was mainly to give her a psychological preparation process.
But they were still only at the stage of separate bedroom training. The child might become restless and fearful, and could wake up in the middle of the night.
The two had also prepared some coping strategies. The lights in the hallway and the nightlight in the nursery were on, so even if Mu Mu woke up at night, he wouldn't be scared.
Their bedroom door and the nursery door were also open, which also allowed him to keep an eye on the situation across at any time during the night.
Without Mu Mu by her side, Song Anan was still a little uncomfortable after all.
Pei Kuang finally coaxed her to sleep, but she was clearly sleeping uneasily.
She didn't know how long she had slept when suddenly in her half-asleep state, she saw a small shadow standing by their bed.
Song Anan was startled and quickly turned on the ceiling light in the room. Only then did she find that it was Mu Mu standing by their bed.
The little guy was hugging his little pillow tightly, with a twisted expression on his face.
"Mu Mu, what's wrong?" Song Anan asked.
Mu Mu pouted, on the verge of crying, "Mom, I'm scared sleeping alone. I want to sleep with you."
By now Pei Kuang was awake too. Seeing Mu Mu at the bedside, he knew what was going on.
Seeing the little guy like this, Song Anan felt extremely distressed. "Come, come up. Go to sleep with Dad and Mom."
Mu Mu looked hesitantly at Pei Kuang, somewhat reluctant.
He had promised Dad to sleep alone. Would this be breaking his promise?
But what if he really wanted to come up?
Seeing this, Pei Kuang also smiled and beckoned to him, "Come on up."
Hearing this, Mu Mu looked as if he had been pardoned. His eyes were laughing so much they almost disappeared. "Okay, Mu Mu is coming up now."
The next second, before the little one could move, he waved his little hand and threw the small pillow in his hand onto the bed.
Then, very nimbly, he climbed onto the bed and slept between his dad and mom.
But after getting his wish to sleep with dad and mom, Mu Mu couldn't help but worry again: "Dad, am I not very brave?"
I had promised I could sleep by myself, but still failed.
Pei Kuang smiled and replied: "No, not being able to do it this time doesn't mean you can't succeed next time, we can take it slowly."
Mu Mu seemed to semi-understand.
Pei Kuang continued explaining: "You see, it's like when you build blocks, can you build it perfectly every time on the first try?"
Mu Mu shook his head like a rattle drum, "No."
"But as long as I try building it a few more times, I can definitely build it well."
Pei Kuang smiled and said: "That's right, that's the logic. We didn't succeed this time, so let's try again tomorrow. As long as you don't give up, you'll definitely succeed eventually."
Mu Mu tilted his head and thought hard for a while, feeling dad's words made a lot of sense.
That's right, if he can't do it tonight, he can try again tomorrow night.
After all, he wouldn't give up.
Seeing the little one understood his words, Pei Kuang smiled and ruffled his hair.
Lying between his dad and mom, Mu Mu felt very secure, so it wasn't long before he fell asleep.
Watching the father-son interaction, Song Anan felt a warmth in her heart.
Without a doubt, Pei Kuang was a good dad, a really good one.
Although failing to sleep separately on the first day, they would continue to work on it.
In Pei Kuang's words, once the arrow has left the bow, there's no going back. Can't give the child an experience of halfway abandonment.
Luckily Mu Mu was very cooperative. On the second night, he once again returned to his own room.
In the middle of that night, Mu Mu woke up again.
But this time, he didn't immediately get out of bed to find his dad and mom. Instead, hugging his little pillow, he thought for a good while before finally unable to endure it any longer, got out of bed.
This was the method dad had told him during the day - to try controlling himself for a bit.
But if he really couldn't stand it, he could also give up, just not give up right from the start.
When Mu Mu once again came to his parents' bedside, he saw Song Anan stir a little. He immediately recalled startling mom last night when he came over.
So he quickly said in his little milk voice: "Mom, don't be scared, it's me, it's Mu Mu, Mu Mu is here!"
In fact, before Mu Mu came over, Song Anan and Pei Kuang were already awake, but hadn't moved, wanting to see what he would do.
Maybe the little guy would decide to return to his room after all, then they could pretend nothing had happened.
But hearing these words from her son, Song Anan's heart instantly melted.
Waa waa waa, whose little warm man is this!
Song Anan hugged the little one and smothered him in kisses, making Pei Kuang a little jealous watching on the side.
Humph!
His wife had never taken the initiative to kiss him like this!!
