Night Terrors

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and your mind won't stop thinking? I do this a lot! In fact for the past few years I have had one thing continue to play in my head each and every night. Simply put, it is about the character flaws in my children. Now don't get me wrong.... I love my little kids. They each have a thousand wonderful things about them, but let's face it, they have some flaws too. I do not believe that I am the only parent that thinks this way but If you are one of those parents that loves every idiosyncrasy about your child then now would be a good time for you to blog hop somewhere else.

Anyway, every night I am reminded of one thing I would change about my four year old if I was given the chance. It is his inability to sleep like a normal person. Since he was born he has been a poor sleeper. He never even slept through and entire night until he was about 8 months old. Now at the age of four he continues to sleep poorly. It does not matter if he naps or not. He wakes crying and screaming. He is totally irrational and cannot be soothed until he lands in my bed between my husband and me. In fact, it does not matter how many times we put him back in his bed at night he always creeps back. We have tried putting a toddler bed at the end of our bed, a make-shift bed on the floor next to one of us and nothing works. Just last night I had another one of my finer moments as a parent where I exhaustedly placed my four year old out on the back porch in the middle of the cold, rainy night. I had promised him that if woke up his sister again because he was crying in his bed then he would be put out on the porch and I followed through. I need to interject a quick apology to my neighbors here for the 2am disturbance. Luckily it was only for about 30 seconds or so.

Here is the part where I mention that I have my own character flaws and that not everyone is perfect, so on and so forth. I just need a little sleep! So Tate, here is a little letter I have composed for you:

Dear Tate, I am tired. I am fed up with putting you back in your bed and with you crying all night. Dad and I even bought you a fancy Serta mattress in the hopes it would help you be more comfortable in your own bed. Please try harder to soothe yourself. Please try harder to stay in your own bed. Please, Please, Please! Dad and I are tired of sneaking off to the guest bedroom to be alone in the middle of the night. I love you lots and I think you are usually pretty agreeable. Let's just work on the sleeping, Ok?

Love, Mom

I am going to also a include a quick note to my husband here too.

Dear Robbie,

I miss you! I am tired of being divided every night by the Great Wall of Tate. Thank you for taking turns with Tate at night. One day we look back and laugh about all of this, right? I am sure it will be when we are better rested. Anyway, you are a good partner and I love you!

Your wife, Susanna

P.S. You, Me, tonight - guest bedroom!