The Family Bed

So, Thursday night was our first night home after being away from the kids on vacation.

The baby woke at 11:30 p.m., and came to bed with us.

At 2:30 a.m., our daughter Christiane joined in. Therefore the baby could not sleep.

I put Christiane back in her bed.

At 3:30 a.m., I gave the baby a bottle because she was asking for milk. Yes, verbally: Milk!

Our youngest son, Constantine and our oldest, Petros had joined in our bed while I was back in the nursery giving C-No a bottle.

I tried to get her down. It seemed to be working.

I went back into our room, it was 4:30 a.m. now and my husband Fotis was up showering (loudly). Constantine and Petros told me that their father had asked them to stay put.

I went to the guest room to sleep, as the awareness of Fotis showering would keep me up.

Then Christiane decided to come looking for me. She went into the baby’s room and woke her.

I got angry. And I told her to go back to bed. She burst into tears, “You scared me!!” she wailed.

Guilt, huge guilt.

Instead, I took her with me to the guest room as the baby cried for a moment and then went back to sleep. I slept hugging Christiane from 5-7 a.m. Petros and Constantine sleeping in our bed. Fotis now up, doing work.

Theodore, my second son, was the only man who made it soundly through the night.

Christiane and the baby slept till 7:30 a.m., while I showered and the boys hung out with their dad.

By the time breakfast hit, I was ready for bed again myself.

But then you get into gear and into the day and it sort of melts away, nighttime insanity. Due really to me being away and it getting out of control. I am here now, on guard, ready to set us all back on track. To Nighttime Sanity Time.

Ratings last night:

Theodore: 10.

Constantine and Petros: 8.5 (woke but did what they were told). Okay, 9′s.

Baby: 4.

Christiane: 6.5, for waking twice, and for waking the baby, but then I felt so bad, I should just give her a ten.

Fotis: Up too early at 4:30 a.m. — come on! Help me out here: 6.5, like Christiane. But he did not complain, and he was in a good mood this morning. He was also with the boys, so maybe a 10.

Me: I was good until I got upset at Christiane. 6.5 for me too. But then we hugged and she forgave me and me her. And all is well.

The baby we can revise: she did sleep till 7:30!! Despite the restless night. Okay, an 8. No, 7:30 deserves a 9. Even from the French judge.

This is why I am not a teacher. No one would ever get a C. Only B’s and above.

Wishing you, (and us), a far better tonight.

Jennifer Dulos also blogs at www.fivemakesseven.com.