Clinging To the Edge of the Bed
July 9, 2009
How is it that small children have such a powerful force in the middle of the night? You can take a 35 lb., 3 yr-old, put them in bed next to you and suddenly they are strong enough to force you to the edge of the bed. And it doesn’t matter how many times you pick them back up and slide them over, their sleeping, life-force magically moves you right back to the very edge of the bed where you spend the night clinging to the last bit of mattress.
I’ve spent almost every night of the last 20 years with at least one child in bed with me. Some mornings I wake up to as many as 3 (they sneak in while I’m sleeping and together take over!) and it doesn’t matter how empty the other side of the bed is, they are drawn to my side, where they pile on top of each other, turn sideways and leave me teetering on the edge. I’m beginning to think that this is how they rejuvenate and recharge…..they drain me of my energy while I sleep. And apparently to get the needed energy, they must push right up to me and drain me while leaving me in a semi-state of sleep…just asleep enough so that I’m fooled into thinking I’ve slept and just awake enough that I don’t let go of the edge of the bed and fall off. No wonder I can get up so early without problem…..I’m never deep enough asleep to have to actually “wake up”.
I guess the good news is that they grow out of it. I can let any of my teens share the bed and they are able to keep to the other side. However, let any 2 of them in at the same time and I’m back to the edge. I’ve spent so many years there, that it’s pretty automatic now. I guess I’ll never really get a good night’s sleep .
Thank goodness for coffee!
Have a great day~
3 comments
Glad to hear there is someone else with a family bed. We too have had a little person in the bed for the last 16 years. Victoria didn’t sleep with me much. However, the boys all have. We get one out because the next one is coming. Except for the two that are 14 months apart. I slept between them to nurse them through the night. Just the other day, someone was asking for advice on getting their baby to transition from the bassinett to their own room. I told her with as many kids as I have I did not have any answers for her because I have never done it!
There are some that cringe at kids in the bed. However, I fully realize that they will not be little forever. I really enjoy the baby being there!
I know what you mean about the 3 yr old. If I could just manage to keep the heels of those 3 yr old feet out of my gut, I think I could manage the 6 inches of edge space for a little while!
Well here comes the guilt! I never started” the baby in the bed”because I had to have the sleep! There was a crib next to the bed all those years and one next to yours too, as you well remember my dear girl. I just had to have that 24 inches of space for those few hours so I could give my all to all of you and your Dad and the house and the laundry and the dishes the dog and the cat and whatever other animals we may have had at the time. When you were small I tried the shared bed but your children have inherited your powerful little legs that wound up in my stomach and back which changed my mind forever on the whole concept.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. OX Mom
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