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

There are two issues that I find it hard to adjust since we had baby Simon.  The first is the unavoidable interrupted sleep in the nights and second, the lack of routine these days. 

My spouse attributes our baby’s night life to my late night activities during my pregnancy.  I would work on the computer late into the night when my boys were asleep.  He deduced that the baby is merely just following my lively rhythm of night activities even after his birth.

My baby is nocturnal.  He is like a night-owl.  His sleepy day time eyes turn as bright as buttons, shimmering like jewels when night descends like a blanket. 

The nights during the first weeks I brought him home were the hardest.  Since his days are inverted, he would pee and poop at two in the night as if it were morning.  Then, he would give you one of his brightest smiles.  I am sure he means, “Hey mum, wake up.  It’s time to play!”

As I go through the motions of cleaning his bum and changing him into a clean diaper, I am envious of the rest of the world.  Except for the sound of an occasional snore or the barking of a dog, the night is calm and silent. Taking care of baby can be a lonesome affair.
 
With less fuss as possible, I quickly change him and put him back into his cot.   He wriggles and squirms and squeaks.  I ignore him as I climb back into my warm bed.   However, he does not like to be left alone.  He demands for my attention constantly. For a human being as small as he is, he is capable of making loud noises. At first, he calls out repeatedly.  When he realises that no one is responding to his call, he turns more aggressive.  For a human being as small as he is, he is rather clever. He starts to scream until he turns red in the face.  Once he gets started, he never stops until he gets picked up.    

His mother has just fallen into deep sleep.  It would require all of my will power and more to drag my fatigue being out of bed.   Thereafter, he would wake up every other hour. 

When dawn breaks, another child stirs in his warm bed.  He awakens and slowly warms up to his surroundings.  He knows that he must get ready for school soon.  And soon after that, our toddler awakens to enthusiastically greet a new day.  Every other member of our family awakens refreshed except for their mother.  She has just managed to put the baby to deep sleep, and now, a new day harkens.

There will be the regular activities waiting for her.  The children will be waiting for their teeth to be brushed, pyjamas to be changed, breakfast to be fed,  fights to be resolved, temper tantrums to be calmed, stories to be heard, stories to be told,  attention to be given, scraped knees to be kissed, homework to be done, games to be played etc. 

Morning turns to evening, and soon my spouse will be home.   It will be then time for dinner to be fixed, weary shoulders to be rubbed, stories to be heard, stories to be told etc. 

The activities that require my attention are endless.  Soon, once again, night descends like a blanket.  The children wind down, getting ready for bed.  They are exhausted and gladly embrace sleep. 

Later, my spouse joins them in their sweet dreams.  Gradually he falls into deep slumber, getting ready to face a new day tomorrow.
 
My eyes sting.  My bones ache. I need only a simple and basic need.  Sleep.  I look forward to a good night’s rest.

But wait.  My baby is nocturnal.  He is like a night-owl.  His sleepy day time eyes turn as bright as buttons, shimmering like jewels when night descends. 

Oh, how I miss my beauty sleep!  

Good night and Sweet Dreams to you!