Yesterday I ran into a pregnant friend.
Her first.
We got to talking about babies and she mentioned how difficult she knew the first couple months would be until her baby started sleeping through the night.
First couple months?
I nearly choked on my coffee as the last eight years of my life flashed before my eyes.
This past Saturday night alone consisted of an around the clock rotation of a four year old who still wants “to snuggle wis’you”, a six year old who sleep walks herself right into my bed, and an eight year old who is afraid of her own shadow.
No sooner was one out of my bed did I find another crawling in. It was like they were on some kind of tag team mission to keep me from sleeping for any longer than an hour at a time.
I shook myself from my thoughts, “a couple months…yes…a couple months…it’s a…errr…difficult transition, that’s for sure.”
Venassa says
Sleep through the night? I have a 5 week old. It’s 5am. I just wish she’d sleep more than 5 minutes at a time.
Bernadette says
Ohhh I remember those days. My eldest got bribed into staying in her own bed after one morning of hardly any sleep I was left with about an inch of the bed to sleep on because all 3 kids had climbed in during the night and the walking 1 yr old had even helped himself to my breastmilk.
Marie says
Exactly why I don’t tell my pregnant friends what motherhood is REALLY like. Might as well let them enjoy that first pregnancy naievte while they can. She’ll find out soon enough. :)
-MM
Better is Possible says
Still chuckling. I remember well the nights of all three kids climbing into the bed. Thought those days were over…kids grown, moved out. Nights of uninterrupted sleep. Not so fast. Granddaughter sleeps over. To my left – snoring husband, to my right – coughing granddaughter. In the middle – me! Sleep through the night? What’s that?
adventuresindinner says
Uhh…yeah. Couple of months. My wee one is now in her big girl bed and it took her 30 seconds to realize she could get out of it. This kid is not afraid of the dark so you hear little “Chucky” footsteps coming down the hall each night (around 3:00) then you get a slap (not a gentle carress) and “Mum, Mum! Mana cuddle NOW!”.
Couple of months. Hahhahahahahhahah (that’s just the tired talking).
Jaime says
My son is 2 and has never been a good sleeper. Last night, we had an almost-all-nighter. These throw me into such a state of anxiety, depression, and exhaustion. How do you cope with terrible nights without feeling angry, resentful, or crazy upset about them? I’m really struggling.
Jen says
I really, really don’t like people who’s children actually sleep at night. Grrrrr.
Arnebya @whatnowandwhy says
Glad you didn’t tell her (b/c maybe she’ll be one of those evil nolongergoodtobefriendswith people whose child actually will sleep through at a few months old). Blank stare.
The girls were easy and sleeping through by 18 months (if it thunders, though, at 10 and 8, they’ll both come running). This boy? THIS BOY? Puhleeze. He’s 2 and all sleep bets are off. Daddy? Mommyyyyyyyyyy? Heddow? I wake up. You come get me, peas. (A few minutes of quiet), then: I need juice!
Marie says
Bwahahahaaaing at “heddow?”! Mine is also 2, but still not talking much, so all we get every night are Wails of Doom and Despair and requests for “Bom!” (his version of Spanish for bottle.)
Soooo much to look forward to.
Not.
Rachel {at} Mommy Needs a Vacation says
Bwhahaha! I think my favorite part of this post is your picture. You look like you could really get some sleep. :-)
Ashley says
BWAHAHA. I’m sorry. That must be the 3-4 a.m. shift talking. With my almost-3yo. Or maybe it’s the 4:20-5:30 a.m. shift talking. With my 5yo. I’m sorry…What was that again? Oh right. “First coupla months.” BWAHAHA.
Eve says
So true! I haven’t slept in 19 months….and counting. In fact, I’m dressing up as a sleep deprived mama for Halloween this year. It’ll be great not to get out of my jammies when we show up at the neighbors house begging for candy. ;)
Carri says
Blake is a great sleeper. Trust me, I know how lucky I am because Blake’s little BFF isn’t a good sleeper. My poor friend always looks like she’s ready to kill someone from lack of sleep.
Adrienne says
File under “ignorance is bliss”!
Kelly says
Sleep? What is this “sleep” you speak of?
I have a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a 1 year old.
nicki says
Your poor disillusioned friend! Better to let her realize on her own as she most definitely will!
Kelly M says
Sleep is something I dream about getting someday. You’re 4 yo is much like my 6yo who still NEEDS to have his snuggle time. Ignorance is bliss for you pregnant friend.
Jennifer says
There is nothing worse than when they tag team one another. Mostly I’ve only had to deal with the big one since the little one started sleeping through the night, but now the little one is having a hard time falling asleep and actually tried to come sleep with us last night. David put him back to bed and this morning Bud told him, “I really mad to you. You hu’t my feelin’s.” I think he gets the whole guilt trip thing from me. Isn’t it cute?
tori nelson says
You’re sweet. Better she be a little unpleasantly surprised than have all this time to think about not sleeping forever!
Becca says
Oldest is 19, youngest is 9, three inbetween. Still waiting…..
Kimmy says
Oh boy, is she in for a surprise!!! Bwwwwaaaaahhhh!!!
Jannica Moskal says
What a cruel cruel joke…a few months!?!?!!
Angel says
I promise it does get better… By the way did you swing by my page and see our extra visitor on our pumpkin farm trip.. go look if you aren’t easily spooked.
Lizgizzy says
Yeah- first couple of months…ha hahahhaaaaa. If by couple of months you mean 2-5 years that would be correct. Mine is six and we still aren’t making it through the night.
Imperfectmomma says
Oh sleep….I heard of this thing called sleep. It’s for the weak right?
Susan in the Boonies says
It finally came to me who you remind me of: Phoebe, on Friends.
Have you heard that a million, billion times?
Lisa ~ AutismWonderland says
HA! It must be her first baby. You are a good friend, letting her hold on to that little fantasy.
Alison at Mommy is a Power Ranger says
Haha! A few months! I loved the days when my babies were only a few months old. That is when it was easy. Now I have the 1 year old waking up screaming in the bed next to me, the almost-3 year old not falling asleep until 5 am and crying for juice or a different show on TV, and the almost-4 year old playing musical beds all night long. I don’t even know what sleeping through the night is anymore.
Kisatrtle says
Lol it is not unusual for us to find our 12 year old on the floor of our bedroom…couple months bahahahaha
Tracee says
HeeHeeHee. What is sleep? I now blame my lack of sleep on grown ups though. Whenever I try to take a nap to catch up on sleep due to my child…the phone rings.
Jen says
Oh, how I see my future in your post!!! We call ourselves the “accidental co-sleepers”. After the first 3 put downs of the night, the little man just gets snuggled nice and warm in our new (because 3 peeps don’t fit in a queen) comfy king bed. We know what we are pretending to not be doing, but it’s what’s best for our little family…and if another one of my not so crunchy mama friends tells me “You should just read this great book called Babywise. My baby slept through the night at 8 weeks.” I. Will. Frackin. Scream.
Jen says
Well, of course airplane people want to be your friend AND Jesus would save you from a crash. I mean come on, DUH!
mom taxi julie says
LOL I keep thinking that at some point my son (now 8) will not want to sleep in my bed?