****A blog about sleep deprivation, written by a really tired woman. Please lower expectations!!!****
Children are disruptive to sleep.
I think this is what separates Myalgia Mommies from other women who also suffer from chronic pain.
We added a dose of kids. So we aren't in control of "sleep management" our kids choose our sleep schedules. This weekend my toddler is treating us to a cold and waking up at 5am (instead of her usual 6:30, which is still pretty harsh) we are in boarding school or Guantanamo. I'm not sure yet. I do know this much coffee so early is not good for me and I am going to switch to yerba matte soon.
Yesterday I made a bundt cake. My older daughter decorated it and we came up with a wonderful litany of reasons to have a cake. I ate way too much and went to sleep with the baby having been up on a marathon of taking care of a sick family since 5 am. There is a special level of care taking that a mother gives. We add a dose of our own neurosis. I sit and pace, wondering if I can worry her symptoms into the deadly and rare variant of croup that kills children in the mountains of Eastern Europe. She has a lingering common cold, but I am a creative and loving mother. Also, I apply menthol vapor rub with the perfect touch.
This morning the toddler starting demanding "Pie" or The Cake at 5:45 before we were able to make coffee. I've started a strange conversation on twitter at dawn.
My husband and I have never been morning people. When we met we we both law students. In Washington, DC in the late 90's we both went to Law School in the Evenings because we were having too much fun working as attorneys during the day. We put in 70 hour weeks and did not rise on the weekends until noon.
Both our daughters are those shiny, sunlight, bubbling creatures that alight with the dawn. I have no idea how this happened. The last decade has been a struggle and an evolution. Now we wake up early. Our girls outshine us in the mornings but we have coffee and catch up to them by 8ish. Comparing our situation to other parents, I think it is a common affliction.
None of this changes the fact that I am not in control of the sleep pattern my body wants this week.
So, I'm getting more coffee. Today we are having cake with second breakfast.
Cheers,
ALJ
Oh my, I remember those blurry days when my boys got me up so early. It was good training for later when I went back to teaching. I was always sleep deprived. Thankfully, I was not also dealing with chronic pain. I don't know how you do it. One step at a time, I suppose. If we run too far ahead of our current circumstances, we can miss the simple joy of the moment.
ReplyDeleteWow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging
ReplyDeletefor? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is fantastic,
as well as the content!
My blog stay at home moms work