Here I am sitting in the warm cozy sun room of our home that includes a wood burning stove. I am sitting here all alone. Why? you ask? It is because I arrived home from karate class to find not one, not two, but all three males in my care (four, if you include the dog) sleeping happily. One with his head on a purple and pink unicorn PillowPet (Don't ask). One with both arms thrown over his head as if to say 'touchdown', his reading light blasting him in the face. The last snoring. I will not tell you which one is which. What I will tell you is that it does a heart good to know that all are snuggled happily away.
What I am contemplating is how DadOfAllTrades has the where-with-all to go to bed when he is tired. Now, I know that sounds like a statement that should be followed by a loud and long 'DUUUUUHHH'. But I realize that he can declare 'I am tired.' and go to bed without a second thought. I have not the ability to look beyond what needs to be done and just say "That is it. I am D.O.N.E. And I am going to bed at 8:15." Why can I not do this and my infinitely smart husband can? Is it hardwired in men and not in women? Can I go back to the manufacturer and ask to have an after-market part installed that allows me to overlook the dirty dishes and just lie down?
DadOfAllTrades used to work these awful shifts that involved him on all three shifts over the course of 28 days, every 28 days. It was the most difficult time in our marriage as the poor man was constantly tired and cranky. I can't say I blamed him.
I remember how I was during the months I nursed babies, but even then I still know that I could sleep when it was dark out and be awake when it was light. And I had an adjustment period to get used to the broken sleep. Being nine months pregnant with a kicker is not conducive to eight consecutive hours of shut-eye. I even developed a system with Buzz in that I would put two blankets on the floor in his room before I went to bed. When he hollered for some milk, I groggily drug myself upstairs and scooped him up. I changed his diaper, smelled his hair (wonderous!), and placed him ever so lovingly on the floor next to me on blanket #1. I would cover me and him with blanket #2 because I am a freeze-baby ever since gestation and help him to latch on. Then I would fall back to sleep while he ate. This may not be the safest way with the blankets and suffocation and all, but it was much safer for him than me being in a rocker and dropping him as I fell back to sleep. I figured that if he was already on the floor he couldn't fall there.
I digress... Back to DadOfAllTrades.
So, DadOfAllTrades had these crazy shifts and for seven glorious, I mean lonely, nights I had evenings all to myself. Once I put the boys in bed and did the minor straightening I have to do (or I can't sleep), I could have dropped into the gentle arms of sleep and felt much better the next day. Better able to handle all that toddlers and preschoolers can throw at you, or me, or...whatever. But NOOOOOOOO. I usually turned on the TV and channel surfed. I found shows I would never have watched while DadOfAllTrades was home. Like this one about spoiled brats looking for the best wedding dress. Or some cooking shows on The Food Network that sent me back to the kitchen for a nighttime snack. Or even the home shopping shows. Next thing I knew it was 11pm and I had to force myself to turn off the TV quick before the 'Next up" previews began. There were nights I turned of the tube right before I knew DadOfAllTrades would be home because I was embarrassed to admit I was still awake and watching TV I really didn't care about.
The thing that impresses me the most about finding them all asleep is that DadOfAllTrades makes no excuses. He just goes to bed and sleeps. I wish I could take care of myself like that. He got the boys ready for bed, which is no mean feat anymore. I even remember looking at him when he got home from work and thinking that he looked a little tired. And God bless him that he recognizes this about himself. I need to take a lesson from DadOfAllTrades and just go to bed.
Ok here I go...
Well..ok now....
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