Yesterday morning, I woke up at 7am. The house was quiet. I got up and had a shower. I got dressed. I walked out to the living room. I sat down. In silence.
At 7:15, my 3yo (B1) appears and with a puzzled look on his face says, “Mummy, why were you up before me??”, as if it’s never happened before. In fact, I cannot remember the last time this happened in our house. What usually happens? I’m glad you asked. There are several scenarios:
The Slam-Door Scenario
B1 wakes up and as he leaves his room he closes the door. Really loudly. This wakes B2, whom he shares a room with. B1 goes to the toilet. B2 cries for his breastfeed. Mummy is now awake.
The Milk-Bar Scenario
B2 wakes up, he’s hungry and wants his breastfeed. He cries. His crying wakes B1. B1 goes to the toilet, then searches out mummy for his warm milk (‘milkshake’). Mummy is now awake to 2 boys wanting their respective milk beverages, which cannot easily be made simultaneously. *Sometimes hubby/ housemate are home/awake to get B1’s milkshake. These days I just feed B2.
The I’m-Drowning-In-My-Pee Scenario
B1 wets his bed. B1 screams from his bed, “Mum, Mum, Muuuuuummm, Mum, MMMUUUMMMMMM…” etc. Meanwhile B2 wakes up, and starts screaming for his breastfeed. Mummy is now awake. On days when hubby is home we divide-and-conquer. On days when he isn’t like happened 2 days ago mummy gets still-quite-distressed B1 to the toilet and then baths/dresses him whilst B2 screams down the house (or B1 is put in the bath and B2 is fed in the bathroom). Fun, fun.
The Monster Scenario
B1 has a nightmare. He speaks loudly in his sleep. He wakes housemate. Housemate opens door to go in and comfort B1. Light from open door wakes B2. B2 screams. Mummy is now awake. B1 is fast asleep again, whilst B2 will not settle and keeps mummy and housemate and sometimes hubby awake. And B1 is still sleeping. *Instead of getting up, sometimes the ‘elbow’ principle can be used here
The Freaky-Stalker Scenario
B1 wakes and quietly comes out of his room. He comes into master bedroom, and stands there and waits. His puts his head right up to mummy’s face. “Mummy, may I please have my milkshake? Mummy, mummy… Milkshake…” Mummy is now awake. *Somedays the “daddy, daddy’ version happens to hubby too, and I’m we’re trying to encourage this 🙂
The Elbow Scenario
Hubby’s alarm clock goes off. Mummy is now awake. Hubby is still asleep. Mummy elbows still-sleeping-hubby, “Oi, wake up”. Elbows again. “Oi, turn it off”. Mummy is now very awake, but rolls over and attempts to go back to sleep. This scenario is then followed by another of the listed scenarios.
The Oops-I-Did-It-Again Scenario
Housemate wakes up in the night. Accidently wakes one of the kids. Kid screams. Other kid wakes. Other kid screams. Mummy is now awake. Mummy walks out to settle the kids. Mummy see’s housemate who smiles sheepishly and says, “Wasn’t me…”. Mummy smiles. *Instead of getting up, sometimes the ‘elbow’ principle can be used here
The Sleepy-Head scenario
Any of the above scenario’s play out and Mummy breastfeeds B2. After this B2 goes into the playpen, B1 is supervised by hubby,housemate or a dvd, and mummy crawls back into bed. And rolls over. And goes back to sleep. Kids scream. Mummy is now awake. Again.
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Linking up with Jess from Diary of a SAHM for iBOT – I Blog On Tuesdays!
That was great! Our morning is always the same. It must be exciting living on the edge 🙂 Rachel
Haha. I am a regular user of the ‘elbow principle’. Ahhh, the days of blissful sleep, so missed!
Ah yes I know many of these well. Lucky for me my hubby is a morning person so I often get a bit more sleep until by milk is required by the baby.
That is so funny! Who would have thought to write a post on different waking up senarios! Gold.
I always wake up before my babies. That’s the only time I have to write!
Haha this is so cute! I usually wake up after my girl but that’s because we still co-sleep and well, that doesn’t mean I don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to make milk every other night. =) Glad to have found your blog!
Oh how I wish I could sleep longer than the children! I was up at 5 this morning, the kids didn’t wake until 6:30. I’m a terrible sleeper and thankfully my kids didn’t get my sleep-genes
i think we may have all experienced some, if not all of those scenarios at some time! But having 3 older kids now i can say there is a light at the end of the tunnel….
Well I hope you enjoyed the peace that came with this morning. I used to be a real night owl so I was a rather anti morning person and everyone would always wake before me. Lately however I have given up the late nights and changed them for early mornings leaving me to watch the sun rise in peace.
Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses #TeamIBOT
There is nothing better than being allowed to wake up naturally in your own time!!!! Here’s to many more!!!
LOL! I can relate to so many of those. It’s one thing when your children wake you up – it’s a given. But when your hubby does but he goes back to sleep…that’s unforgivable! 🙂
hahaha I can totally relate!! Add 2 more kids and minus the housemate and I could’ve written that lol!
Yes, I can’t remember ever having been awake before my kids! They are usually up between 6 and 6:30am… especially since being pregnant, I have no problem sleeping beyond that time.
Hilarious, but infuriating at the same time! Really it all boils down to mummy getting shafted out of a sleep in. I also apply the “I’m so deeply asleep I am in a coma” technique whenever possible 😉