A friend of the family once told me: Having one is like having none. Having two is like having twenty.
We have three.
With our first, life didn’t really change much. Our neighbours gave us this fabulous sling, so we took him everywhere with us. We took him shopping, we took him to parties, we took him to karate class. We took him to our favourite cafe where I nursed him while I ate my breakfast. If we didn’t “sling him”, we strolled him. He became part of the routine.
Our second arrived while the first was potty-training. Each one needed full attention. Two children, two parents; a one to one ratio. But for some reason, the math didn’t work. . .
The third arrived while the second was potty-training. The first was old enough to ‘get it’, and most of the time, he was very helpful. But Number Two didn’t adjust so well. And Number Three was a girl.
A year later, it’s still a madhouse, but it’s okay. If you’re the only sane person in a world full of crazy people, then who is the real loony? Sometimes, it is simply best to become your environment.
Last night, I was awakened for the usual 2am feed. But the girl had me up again an hour later, and I had to walk her for a good half hour, while she kicked away her gassiness and rubbed her new tooth into existence. I got another hour of sleep before Number Two came in to say he’d wet the bed, so he needed a change of jammies and a change of sheets. I headed back to bed for a few more zzzs, but just before dawn, Number One woke from a bad dream, and came to me for some company. This time I got lucky: Daddy took his pillow and went to cuddle instead.
I don’t believe there are any actual recorded deaths as a result of sleep deprivation, but sometimes I think I may just be the first. But while it has not been all that plentiful of late, my sleep has been heavy. Eight hours of light repose is nothing next to four one-hour snippets of oblivion.
If you are an agonizingly light sleeper and occasional insomniac, as I’ve been most of my life, the ultimate cure is simple: Have three.
About Christine
Glad to read that we are not the only ones living in the asylum! While sleep deprivation may not be the root cause of any recorded deaths, I am pretty sure it is and has been used as a form of torture in recorded history. lol
My personal moderate to severe sleep issues really have been brought to the forefront this last year. Thankfully the boys sleep well, for the most part. Me, not so much. Stupid Australian Open tennis and Olympics not helping much these days either.
Matt linked me here through facebook. The family looks well. Hope to see everyone sometime sooner rather than later.