Hello nighttime. We meet again.
Your quiet darkness does not calm me. Instead, you've been my call to duty for over a decade as our wakeful child parties in his bedroom like the sun will never rise.
He has no concept of time. But I do.
1 am, you've never been my favorite. It's nothing personal. It's just that I have only begun to fall into a decent sleep by the time I am called to your hour.
What? Was that a noise? Did I just hear him in his room?
2 am, I don't want to rendezvous with you. When we are forced to meet, I've usually been up an hour with our son. It's just not healthy. Please. Go away.
Did I hear him ripping a book? He's not eating it, is he?
3 am, I cringe at the sight of you. In your hour, my language is downright filthy. We bring out the worst in each other, you and I. Together, we are a rancid mix. This simply must end.
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"? He has enough in him right now to be singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"????
4 am, you are the other side of hell. I'm sure of it. I come to you strung out and battle weary, unsure if my duties will ever end. I'm a slave to you.
In my next life, I hope I am a worm. I can't think of anything more simple than to live life as a worm--well, except maybe if I were an ameoba. They are single-cellular. Um, wait a minute, aren't they complex? Oh, heck, my husband's right. I should just be yeast.
5 am, I greet you with squinted eyes. I guess you aren't so bad. At least you come with coffee.
Ahhhh, cooofffeeeee.
6 am, I love your sunshine. It lifts my spirits, but it also lulls my son to sleep.
THAT IS JUST SO WRONG!!!
This entry was written in response to The Letter Prompt "A" in the Blogging A to Z Challenge April 2012.
*************************************************
Need some photos for your blog? Visit Morgue File for a wide variety of images which are offered free of charge and for public usage.
Ah, Amy great post, as usual. I hope the coffee is spectacular.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! You were my first reply!!!Nothing is better than that first cup of coffee!
DeleteIt IS wrong. Bless you! I think a pet dog would be better. They get to sleep all the time and then get stroked and petted. That would be a great life. Thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeleteCatch My Words
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2012/04/atoz-abducted-by-aliens.html
A pet dog instead of kids? Or......to be a pet dog instead of yeast? I'm sleep deprived today. Both look like good options! LOL!
DeleteGreat post! I think I'm coming back as a cat - curling up and sleeping in the sunshine - wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMMmmmmmm. Lazy summer days asleep in the sun. Yes. Much better than yeast.
DeleteWow-- I loved the post. Of course, I work nights and can relate to looking forward to the sun coming up. It takes me until about 2am to get my daughter to sleep on most nights.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Jenn
http://www.wine-n-chat.com
Jenn, thank you. You know, I will say that our son has beaten this life into us. I'm able to do this for many days in a row before crashing. Still, there is a hump in the middle of the night...ugh...3am isn't pretty. I always thought we'd get over the sleepless days after infancy. We simply have never returned to sleep.
DeleteWhat a great post! While I don't have kids, one of my dear friends does and I have made that trip around the clock with her before. I'd say I don't know how you do it, but I think the answer is a simple "I do it because I have to." I have so much admiration for women like you who simply carry on, even when there's nothing simple about it.
ReplyDeleteHi, Katie! Thanks for stopping by! Yes, you have really described it perfectly.
DeleteThis is a beautiful post, Amy. I knew you would do well. :-P
ReplyDeleteSo...you write like a maniac AND you read. Good gravy....lol!!!
DeleteAmy I truly enjoyed this. The "All-Nighters" can be fun and infuriating... depending on who gets the time to sleep when all is said and done. This time around it looks like you had a bit of a disadvantage.
ReplyDeleteNice start on the A-Z!
A-Z 2012 (#861)
Bloggit Write A-Z 2012 - Haiku
These days, I'm the night person. My husband either burns the midnight oil working or is up very early to go to the office. So...I'm the night lady. Husband did it in the infant years.
DeleteI only like all-nighters now because since my kids are all grown up, I can sleep in the afternoon if I'm so inclined. Well, only on the weekends, since that Mega Millions thing didn't pan out.
ReplyDelete:( No sleeping in. I don't envision the day that will happen?
DeleteSince I am one who is also lulled to sleep by the rising of the morning sun, I don't know how to explain the draw of the middle of the night on me. It's just where I am creative and it's also where I am alert and happiest. I love the night.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I don't have to wake up until I feel like getting up, so that helps me to love the all nighters.
(and you, of course). ♥
I wish I could group all of you glorious, hormonally challenged women together and give you a great big, "Ppptthhhpptthh!"
DeleteXo
Btw, fun checking in with you on my night shift last night.
As a person who sometimes can't sleep at night I understand what it's like to look at the clock every hour. Great post and great start to the challenge. And thank you. You inspired me to get my butt into gear and try the challenge. We'll see how it goes! ♥
ReplyDeleteKAT!!!! I'm so excited!!!! With all you have powered through in life, you can write a simple blog entry every day! Go, go, go!!
DeleteA-Z love baby! {By the way, you've always been in the posse} In fact I'm going to craft a special t-shirt for you;)
ReplyDeleteWorm sounds good to me, I like it...and yes, if your house is anything like mine, he was eating the paper. Awesome as usual girl!
Um, you should install a tweet button on this blog here so I can tweet you to the masses!
He was eating that paper. Uuuugh.
ReplyDeleteI wanna know a/b the posse!
Twitter: shoot! You mean I don't have. Tweet button? LOLOL!!
You must have a very special temperament to cope with your very special pressures. And as stressful as it might be, I'm sure the ultimate joy of raising your kids sustains you.
ReplyDeleteWe have six children, and while none of them are "special needs," they are each very different, and present their own challenges. No-one told us that we would have to re-learn parenting for each child, but that's how it feels. Thankfully they all seem to be turning out okay. Though I often feel my wife and I are the ones benefiting the most from the experience. :)
Hi, Colin: Thanks for stopping by! My parents had four children, and while none of us has special needs either, I think the sheer number and the fact that we were all individuals growing in this world is a special need of its own. I agree that I didn't think parenting would be different for each child, but it is. For me, I find that even the same diagnoses is exhibites with different characteristics between my kids.
DeleteAfter all, we are all individuals.
On a certain level, it is fascinating.
On a sleep deprived level, it is frustrating. :)
You are such a trooper, and I remember those all nighters before my kids learned to sleep all night. I do not know how you do what you do, but I am with Colin, you must be blessed with a special temperament from God to be able to endure all you must!
ReplyDeleteKathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com/
Hi, Kathy! We didn't arrive here overnight. I think kids beat tolerance into you one painful experience at a time. Settling the boys into bed right now. Wish me luck!!
DeleteI love this post, Amy. You always make me smile--no, laugh--with your humor and good-natured take on the challenges in your life. My cousin also has a special-needs son (now grown) and she was telling me recently how he would keep her up at nights when he was little. I admire both of you so much.
ReplyDeleteElaine, thanks for always reading and for laughing with me. lol. I don't think I am to be admired. I just soldier through it.
DeleteOh, I don't miss those nights at all --- & you have my sympathies! I suppose the silver lining is that you've turned a chaotic, frustrating situation into a great piece of writing! I'll be following --- thanks for the good read! :)
ReplyDeleteAndi-Roo /// @theworld4realz
http://www.theworld4realz.com/
theworldforrealz@gmail.com
Thanks for visiting!
DeleteIf I didn't hold out the unrealistic hope that I could catch a minute or two of sleep, I'd write during these late-night episodes. Now THAT would really make for some funny reading!!
Awesome post - I see coffee has a huge meaning in your life. Great to connect with you Amy, I can't wait to read more!
ReplyDelete