Shhhh – Cole is still sleeping…

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one.  –          Leo J. Burke  

 

We have serious sleep issues here. Thankfully we don’t have any real trouble putting children to bed – instead our issues involve keeping them there. 

Tim and I are both morning people. With very little effort Tim is up at 5:30am everyday, out the door, and headed toward the gym. I love to get up early when the house is quiet and I can putter about in my pajamas getting everything ready for the day ahead. We are very compatible in that we love the early morning because it is our alone time – a productive quiet time. 

When Cole was a baby we had a terrible time getting him to bed. We paced with him, we negotiated with him, and we pleaded with him just to go to bed. It never worked. Cole went to bed when he felt like it – no matter what we did. Still today he would like his bed time to be just after the Leno monologue, however even when he does stay up now he plays quietly with legos or a puzzle hoping we will not realize he is still lurking around. 

The other kids are not night owls like Cole and here in lies the problem. They are morning people – up at the crack of dawn – loud – playful – and demanding. As summer nears and the morning light comes earlier the kids – especially Anna and Truman seem to be waking long before Tim and I are ready to get up. 

We have been able to organize things so that they are fine for a little while on their own. Anna gets breakfast for both of them – yogurt and a bagel. If I leave their clothing out, they will both be dressed before dawn. They even try to make their own beds. This all sound great and it would be except that they are doing all this on my time – they are moving in on my sacred quiet and I unfortunately can’t find a way to replace it. 

For Tim it’s not as bad. He likes to wake up at the gym on a treadmill sipping a protein shake, followed by a warm cup of coffee on his way to the office. But these little morning monsters are here on my turf making me talk to them, demanding I get them things, and watching my every move. It takes all the fun out of getting up. 

Friday is our last day of school and in many ways I am looking forward to the summer schedule. I imagine long mornings writing my blog, drinking ice tea, and listening to the rhythm of the dryer – all keeping me ahead of the game. However, as the end of school nears and my quiet time becomes more and more populated – I am wondering what time the daycare at the gym opens—perhaps they need more Dad bonding time – and I’d be happy to stay here with Cole…