Sleep deprivation. Is seriously. Seriously. Difficult.
And I’m supposed to FUNCTION as a reasonable human being. A parent. A MOTHER.
But my kids. Won’t. Let. Me. Sleep.
My mom says this won’t last forever. In fact, it will only be a FEW. MORE. YEARS.
But, oh, how am I ever going to make it?
The past few nights, Em, who has been teething and teething and has nothing to show for it, has not slept. That is, not unless she is on top of me. On top of my chest. She is 20 pounds. And very squirmy. With very sharp fingernails that I keep trying to cut but they’re not long enough to cut. They’re just SHARP. And my face is looking a bit like I got into it with Edward Scissorhands.
This is not the kind of sleeping atmosphere that I find most restful.
Also, the barf bug entered our house earlier in the week. Why, oh WHY, does the barf bug always arrive at THREE O’CLOCK in the MORNING??!!
And my son is having growing pains. Again, why do these pains become unbearable in the middle of the night? Why can’t they hit, oh, say, at quiet time? After lunch. When we’re all resting, and I can just snuggle up next to him and rub his muscley little calves and enjoy it.
And now it’s hot. And I forgot to open the bedroom window during the madness that is the bedtime routine. And the house is old. And the windows are squeaky. And all the children are actually sleeping at this very moment and there is no way in hell that I am going to risk opening a squeaky window and waking up one of them.
And that will be my luck. Tonight they’ll sleep. But it’s so damn hot in here that I won’t.
But I’m going to try. So goodnight, as they say. Here’s hoping…
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I wish upon you sweet, delicious dreams, my sister. If I could take Em for a night, I would. If I could silently apply silicone gel to all your windows RIGHT NOW, and smoothly open them RIGHT NOW, I would. Mom says it will not last forever, and she’s right, it won’t. I dare say I actually slept all night last night. Of course, now that I’ve said that, I’ve jinxed myself for tonite. Dammit. I knew I should have kept my mouth shut – but I never do, do I?
aaah yes, why do kids only vomit in the middle of the night! I feel for you, after about 3 full nights sleep in 7 years, I am very Zombie Like!
Ah, Jen, you know I feel your pain. I am still there, waiting for the inevitable “end” to this sleep deprivation as well.
Now we actually have some nights when he sleeps for 4 hours straight without needing me. The unfair part is that I lay awake anyway waiting for the inevitable “mama? MAMA!!!”
Like your sweet sister, I wish you sleep and uninterrupted, peaceful dreams that are not marred by teething, growing pains, barf, Edward Scissorhands, and the heat.
Ooooooohhhhhh, do I feel your pain. Did you check out my May 19th post??? Tell your mom I don’t think I can make it “another few years”…!
didn’t you know? barfing is for late-night partiers ONLY.
I’m so lame…I’d rather sleep uncomfortable and queasy than to get out of bed!
There is nothing worse than the sound of vomit in the night. NOTHING WORSE.
Sleep deprivation is so horrible–I am a completely different person (and not a better version) when I’m not getting enough. Here’s hoping you got some zz’s after all.