Sleepless in Decatur

It’s 2:30 a.m. I awake to hear, “Thump, thump, thump. Squeak. Slam. Tah-dump, tah-dump, tah-dump. Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.”

Then a teensie little voice whispers, “Mommy?” When I don’t reply, she persists (only louder), “MOMMY?!”

“Yes?”

“Can I sleep in your bed? (pause) It’s really super-comfy,” she pleads in the sweetest 4-year-old voice you’d ever want to hear.

In my state of slumber, I relent… only to find myself kicked in the back, toosh and ultimately the head, before I muster the energy to drag myself (and youngest daughter) back upstairs for a quick rock, retuck and ultimate escape back downstairs.

Sadly, this sequence repeats itself two more times. Finally, my hubby (who apparently can sleep through anything) gets involved. But not before both of us find ourselves lying awake, minds racing, and struggling to go back to sleep.

So, here’s our dilemma; what do we do? We have begged, pleaded, exerted parental authority, you name it, and nothing seems to work.

We desperately want everyone—kids included—to get the sleep that they need. When the youngest gets up, she is also waking our middle child, too. Before we know it four of the five people in our household are up. By the time our alarm sounds, everyone has to drag themselves out of bed and finds themselves in a less-than-chipper mood, thus getting a less-than-optimal start to the day.

Parents, I need your help. Have you been-there, done-that, and lived to tell? Is it a phase that ultimately passes? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

In the meantime, if anyone else finds themselves up at 2:30, 3, and 3:30 a.m. in Decatur, just know that you are not alone.

Signed,

One tired Mommy (ok, and Daddy)