Sleep

Sleep. Sleep is the single most important and influential activity in a human being's life. Nothing can determine the outcome of a day more than the amount of sleep the night before. As a child, sleep is merely an annoying interruption in the day's fun. As a teenager it becomes more enjoyable and more necessary. As adulthood creeps up so do the responsibilities. And the decisions. And the sleepless nights wondering about what's ahead for you. And then the babies. And the sleepless nights when you rock your baby and wonder whats ahead for your nocturnal protege.

Josie went to bed at 10 and woke up at 6 which meant she got 3 less hours of sleep than she normally does. Apparently they were three very, very, very important hours of sleep. And when I stared down at her and got mad at her for not sharing with her brother and told her to stop crying for the 100th time, I was simultaneously lecturing myself for letting her stay up so late. For making our dinner guests good time more important than her bedtime.

I slept well for a good three hours. I woke up for no other reason, my body still stuck on the cycle of pregnancy bladder, late night feedings and ear infections. I stared at the white wall and thought for hours about everything I needed to do, every place I wanted to live and everything I would be leaving behind. And then I feel asleep and awoke only an hour later to a crabby daugther being carried to our bed by a half-asleep father.

I was crabby too, but I knew there was only room in the house today for one crabby lady. So I smiled and rubbed Josie's back while she yelled at me because my elbow was touching her pillow.