Reclaiming my Bed
I've always had mixed feelings about co-sleeping. Sometimes I would bring my babies into my bed, other times I was firm about them sleeping in their own space. Pretty much the equation worked out to, how am I going to get a better night sleep, with or without them in my bed. I never really brought my kids to bed with me on purpose. They'd start out in their own room, but if they were having a rough night, or if we both desperately needed a nap, you can bet I'd share my bed.
There gets to be certain age, however, when even in the most desperate of sleep needing nights, it doesn't benefit me to bring my kids to bed.
Last night was the perfect example of this. At 2 AM my husband got up to put the four year old back to bed. He picked him up, carried him up the stairs, and tucked him in. At 2:17, he was at our door crying again, so I scooped him up, carried him up the stairs, gave him an extra cuddle and snuck back down to sleep the rest of the night. Less than ten minutes later he was back, so I sighed and brought the boy to bed with me. After about 15 minutes of ear pulling, face touching aggravation we were back in dreamland.
Then came the feet in my face, the realization that if I scooted over just a fraction of an inch more, I would be on the floor. How on earth can one small person take up so much room? Oh, by sleeping sideways between his dad and I, that's how.
Between the tossing and turning, keeping him from pulling out my earrings, removing hands and feet from my face, and sleeping on the edge of the bed, it was rather jarring when the alarm clock went off. I wasn't even close to ready for morning. Pressing snooze to get a few more minutes, I heard other kids awake and knew I must get up.
So, after this night, I realize that he has reached the age in which he can no longer sleep in my bed. Ever. That leaves just one more kid until maybe we'll have our bed back for good.
An original Deep South Moms post. Rebecca continues to wait for the night she'll get a good night sleep (it's been about 7 years now) and blogs through the sleep deprivation at Life With Boys.
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