Guest post by Lindsey Murphy.
Two tributes: One adult male, one adult female.
Three rivals:
District 4: Male, four years old. Tactics include wetting the bed, loud footsteps, and the desire to play with other tributes at ungodly hours of the morning.
District 3: Female, three years old. Susceptible to bad dreams. Deep attachment to blanket. Thumb sucker (this is to your advantage for self-soothing, but against you in the event of a stuffy nose. Also, orthodontics will be a long term consequence.)
District 1: Female, one year old. Weapons of choice include six razor sharp teeth and pinching claws of death. Also equipped with howling shriek of doom. Uses dimples and adorableness to lure in her victims before attack.
Arena: 1200 square feet, one full bed, two twin beds, one crib.
Objective: Survival…or at least a minimal amount of sleep.
The games begin when the last light is off.
Time: 11:00pm
It’s go time. Roll over and turn out the light after falling asleep reading. As soon as you get comfortable, get ready for your first attack. Screaming three year old, middle bedroom. Nightmare. Run in before she wakes the baby in the room. Assure her that there are no bees (or bats) in her room. No, you will not read a story. No, she may not have a cookie. Counterattack with blanket and back-rubbing. Success. Tiptoe past the crib and climb back into bed. Roll over, get comfortable, and close your eyes.
12:30am: Four year old, running through the halls, needs to go potty. Kick male tribute and shove him out of bed. Warn him to avert his eyes downward lest he be blinded by the bathroom light. Whisper death threats to the four year old to keep him from waking his sisters in his proclamation of urination. Begrudgingly move back to your side of the bed when male tribute returns.
2:00: The scream of a Ring wraith pierces the night air (over the two sound machines, that is). Weaning baby, hungry and mad at her discovery that she’s in her crib, alone. Run. Snatch baby from crib and tiptoe back to full size bed. Rock screaming baby. Snuggle screaming baby. Pat the baby’s bottom. Whatever you do, do NOT nurse the screaming, weaning baby.
2:15: Nurse the weaning baby.
2:30-4:30: Undergo a series of co-sleeping attacks in various positions. (Her personal favorite is the “snow angels.”)
5:45: Four year old is up, demanding to watch TV. Engage immediately or he will recruit three year old for backup. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN. The games are over once they join forces. Keep them isolated at all costs. Kick male tribute. Kick him again. Remind him that this is his male heir and pull out the “I’ve been nursing all night” card. Male tribute joins four year old in twin bed and fends off several jumping attacks and endless questions.
6:00: Sneak baby back into her crib
Enjoy 30 minutes of uninterrupted, touch-free sleep.
6:30 Three year old climbs into bed to snuggle. Baby wakes up. Male tribute plops the squiggling fury of teeth and claws into bed with you. Your defeat is imminent. Try to tame rivals with kisses and lullabies.
7:15 The games are over. Get up and face the day with as much kindness as you can muster. With minimal sleep and lots of coffee. And no naps.
May the odds be ever in your favor.
Haha, yep, this is spot-on. :)
Hilarious!! We are living in a tiny condo while we wait to close on our new house and our kids (2 and 5) are sharing a bedroom. To say it is not going well is an understatement. ha! :) May the odds be in your favor at bedtime tonight!
Oh MY. We need to start a charity in support of your mental health.
My youngest did not sleep through the night until she was 2 1/2 and that was not consistent. She had severe reflux and an attitude issue. We just got her off reflux meds 3 months ago. She is 3 1/2 today. She has been consistently sleeping through the for about 6 months. She did not sleep for more then 20
Min at a time until she was 4 months old and then a max of 2 hours. I should note the 20 min was sleeping on me and every so often her head would land on my nose. Yes there was a contemplation once of treating my bloody nose or waking her. My husband slept in the basement through the newborn stage for both of my girls. My oldest is going to be 7 in 2 months and has yet to sleep past 6:15 ( except if she stays with grandparents).
We fail at sleep in our hous
Ouch!! Your poor nose.
Amen. And amen.
I was born in Birmingham many years ago. I have lived all over This Country (father was Military officer). I returned to Alabama during my college years and graduated here. To all out there who know little about this State, and Especially About Birmingham and Montgomey other than the negative, biased reporting by the media), come visit and see what a wonderful place this really is. Birmingham is an incredibly beautiful, clean, friendly metropolitan area of more than 1.2 million people. If for no other reason….it is worth satisfying your couriosity over.
I don’t remember seeing this before! So funny! I hope things have gotten better for her! haha :)