All mothers are familiar with the childhood phenomenon of fullness in terms of meatballs and green beans juxtaposed with emptiness in terms of brownies. Mothers experience a similar phenomenon with regard to sleep. We combat a period of difficult sleepiness at some time of the day: around 7:45 when there's a baby in the house whose day begins at 5:12; at 10:30 when the children can tolerate no more maternal housework and the mother can tolerate no more maternal childwork (neither having been accomplished in any creditable way); in the early afternoon when younger children nap; in the late afternoon when they're all back up and crabbier than when they went down; in the early evening when they still can't be put to bed. During pregnancy this urgent exhaustion may strike several times a day, or persist without any break at all.
But then: they go to bed. And suddenly, the mother is awake! She feels great! She's like a normal person! She can do things again! So she does, far past the bedtime that should be her own, the bedtime that would keep tomorrow from feeling like miserable, somnambulant today. But she's not tired any more, and the bedtime of responsible mothers passes, and she enjoys hours of glorious free time instead of the 45 minutes she should have.
And then it's 5:12 again.
11 comments:
So true!
...and the bedtime of responsible mothers passes, and she enjoys hours of glorious free time
Oh how I yawn for freedom! This is why, once in a while, I will schedule a blog post to publish at 7:00am, instead of 1:00am when it was actually written. You know, for my reputation and all...
But then: they go to bed. And suddenly, the mother is awake! She feels great! She's like a normal person! She can do things again!
Ahh. I finally know this feeling. After 2 years of struggling with getting my kid to go to bed and stay asleep longer than 45 minutes, I finally have free time- at least 4-5 hours before he wakes up again. It's incredible!
ugh. My kids' Horrible Time is from about 4:30-6, but then... THEN is baths and books and bedtime (7pm and 8pm). Then, my time to read (ha!), clean (ha!), do paperwork (ha!), or surf the interwebz (far more likely) until Dad gets home around 10.
>> ... the childhood phenomenon of fullness in terms of meatballs and green beans juxtaposed with emptiness in terms of brownies.
I resemble that remark, and it's all about how we love you and the brownies you make probably in that order
HA! Uh huh....
I know. It's like crack. THIS is why I want my internet disconnected, so I may channel my insanity wisely :D
I don't have any clue what you are talking about. I always go to bed at a reasonable hour and I never post comments to your blog at midnight! But just in case, I may check my house for hidden cameras tomorrow.
I promise myself EVERY NIGHT that I am going to go to bed earlier, but it never ever happens.
And Lisa, spot on.
While I was growing up, I didn't understand why my mother would stay up late into the night working around the house. Now that I have my own four month old I get so much work done as soon as she falls asleep for the night.
Of course, I use the term "work" loosely.
http://www.amberdusick.com/woodmouse_loves_crafts/2011/06/what-it-is-like-to-not-sleep-at-night-illustrated-with-crappy-pictures.html
I'm not kidding. This gal must be sneaking into our house at night.
Funny, that I am reading this at 11pm. I hear ya. I should be in bed.... but oh, that sweet, wonderful sound of quiet.... I have not yet had enough!!!
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