Sleep

Sleep didn't used to be that important to me. I mean, I liked it, but I really didn't think about it much, except for those nights when I was up late grading essays, or the neighbor kids woke me up on a Saturday morning when I wanted to sleep in. I haven't suffered from insomnia and I was never one of those people who felt like she never got enough sleep. Then I had kids.

Now my life revolves around sleep. For example, these are just some of the questions about sleep that are now a part of my daily life:

When did they fall asleep? Did they sleep though the night? When did they wake up? Did the baby get her morning nap? Will we make it home for afternoon nap? Can I keep William awake in the car so he can take an afternoon nap?Can I carry James into the house without waking him up so that he'll take an afternoon nap? Did anyone take an afternoon nap? Who took an afternoon nap? Did they all take an afternoon nap at the same time? Did I take a nap? How soon can we put them to bed? Should I stay awake and get things done or go to sleep? Why don't they just let me sleep?

I remember when I used to be able to sleep in, take a nap whenever it suited me, or even, as a mother of one, who was so tired, take 2 naps a day. Oh sleep. I really love it now. Sometimes, most times, I don't even realize how tired I am until I lay down in bed. Then I think, "wow, I could sleep for hours and hours." But they never let me.

When Aaron asks me how my day was, my response will be often be, "it was a good day. Everyone took a nap." Or on those awful, long and excruciatingly painful days, "it was rotten. No one napped."

Today was a good day. They all slept. In bed, on the floor, in the car seat; I don't care, at least they're asleep.