Just don't. Don't have children. Because even after they out grow that whole wake-up-every-two-hours-to-eat thing they are still ticking time bombs. Waiting until you've settled into a false sense of security in the sleep department and then BAM! They come up sick and are awake half the night coughing, crying and throwing up--and you are awake too--worrying, wondering and praying that this too shall pass. So, save yourself the trouble and just don't have kids. OK?These were my exact thoughts as I stood at my kitchen counter in my underwear at 3:28 this morning--smashing a cough drop with the bottom of a jelly jar.
Why was I powdering a perfectly good cough drop with a breakfast spread container, you ask? Because:
A) My almost-three-year-old has a terrible cough.
B) Her delicate palate cannot handle a full cough drop--or half a cough drop--or even a cough drop crumb.
C) The only thing that will quiet her cough is little sprinkles of cough drop powder lightly dusted on her tongue.
And D) I find a full jar of jelly to be the best smasher in the business--naturally.
Now, when you are standing in your kitchen, in your unmentionables, crushing cough drops at record speed because your youngest child is a gagger, sitting on your newly washed bed spread and if you don't get her cough some droppage soon she is going to up-chuck all over the place it is only natural to wonder a little bit why you are in this particular situation.
"Kids." was my immediate answer.
If any single person or newly wed without children happened to ask me for advice on having children...I would have recited my opening paragraph without hesitation. Rest assured, we all know that the odds of a single or newly wed person standing in the kitchen with me at 3:28 this morning (while I was not dressed for company) are about as good as the odds of me winning a gold medal in the 100 meter dash. So my little anti-children speech did not effect any one's posterity.
As the warm yellow sun spread its beautiful glow over our sleeping house this morning (and I decided that getting to school on time was waaaay over rated) I could more clearly reflect on my situation I knew how much I truly love my (sleeping) children. In addition, it was only the ridiculous hour of the morning that pushed my mind to its anti-child limits. Kids are wonderful creatures and if they aren't keeping you up because they are new babies, sick toddlers, scared children or curfew breaking teenagers enjoy your sleep--it wont last long.
6 comments:
Cassie, I just love your little stories to accompany such experienced events by most parents. It really puts things into perspective sometimes. Hope all is well with the coughing puking thing. Jacob is just getting over his.
I love reading your blog, you say how we all feel at moments. Or more often than not sometimes. You make me laugh. A great way to start the morning! I'm sorry you where up with a coughing child. I feel your misery I mean Joy! :-)
Awesome...way to gear me up for #2!!! And I had a grrrrreat night last night too. Thankfully for me it was just a no sleep issue and not a throw up, coughing, smashing problem.
I hear you. Just to discourage you a little more, by the time our littlest leave the nest, we will be entering menapause (with its own sleep issues) and dealing with snoring husbands. Isn't that always the way it goes?
You always say something so inspiring. When I get up in the night the only thought in my mind is "how soon will this be over so I can go back to sleep?" I guess that is why I should have stopped at three. But number four is so cute!
Hey Cassie,
So, this is obviously late... I don't blog or read them, but I was checking Jessica's for the baby pic. I also don't have kids, but apparently the best way to help them stop coughing is to rub vicks vapor rub all over their feet, put socks on, and put them to bed. I gotta run, Alan needs the computer for psets. We hope to see you guys sometime soon.
Love Heather
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