Sleepless Season

Weighing sleep in the balance. I long for it. I crave it. I watch my husband plodding through days and evenings where just sitting down brings on a doze. For what, you ask? A newborn? A baby cutting teeth? A young child struggling with nightmares? Absolutely not! Our sleep deprivation is thanks to an 18 year-old boy who can't get enough of us!

Each night this boy is somewhere nearby, at least intermittently involved in our family life- not running around, not on the phone with his friends, not texting. At least three nights a week we read aloud from a series of Edgar Rice Burroughs' "Tarzan" books. Twice a week we watch movies together. Wouldn't you think that's all he could handle of us? I would! After all the evening rituals are complete, the dogs, bunnies, and mice fed, lights out, daughters tucked in, the parents are nearly comatose and the bed is looming enticeingly, we hear the pitter-patter of giant footsteps coming up the stairs....

He knocks, enters, and flops face-down on the bed saying "How you do?" Thoughts on the day, reflections on life, sweet banter keeps sleep at bay. We savor these moments. They are treasures. They will soon be over, but they will last forever. This is our routine, our son. What did we do to deserve this?

We were willing to miss a little sleep!