10.10.10
5:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time
After years of writing, talking and lamenting about the need to write a book, I have decided to write a blog for now instead. I wanted to write a parenting book, but the idea was summarily rejected by my oldest child, A., who never minces words. A. said that I could not write a parenting book while I was still parenting two other children under 18. Point noted even if I disagree to some extent.
My tale will begin with my own personal journey as a parent 22 years ago. So why am I waking up at 5:30 AM even though I am an empty nester already? Having a baby is life altering! Forever. Once a mom, always a mom. You can never again be SWOC (single without children). My body clock has been altered permanently to wake up between 4:30 and 5:30 AM. Why I still wake up at this time of the morning is a testament to how hard it is to break old habits.
I started getting up at this hour of the morning before the baby was even born. Gaining 50 pounds makes it hard to get comfortable. I tossed and turned all night trying to find a comfortable position. No rest for the weary. Little did I know that it would be years before I got a full night of sleep.
After the baby was born, sleeping was never an all night affair and never totaled 8 hours in a day. Pacing the floor with a colicky baby was the routine instead. I had never heard of colic before I had a baby. Now I will never forget what it means. It is a miracle of short-term memory loss that I had another baby. Luckily my next two children slept through the night after two weeks. A true blessing, if there ever was one.
A baby crying inconsolably all night long is something that is hard to forget. A.’s flailing, twisting and turning in pain was part of the nightly routine. My heart bled for my child as I tried every known remedy to relieve her agony. Pacing, rocking, driving around the block with the baby in her car seat, and sitting her on top of the running clothes dryer in her baby seat were just a few of the ways I tried to soothe her without resorting to medication. I am sure my neighbors thought I was crazy, but if they had children they could relate to my exhaustion and efforts to console her. No one wants a colicky baby except its mother.
My body clock has been wound up and set for an internal 4:30 AM alarm for 22 years and even after the colic subsided and A. went to school, I found that early morning might be the only alone time I would have during the day. My house is very quiet at that time in the morning. I can get a lot accomplished in uninterrupted peace. Reading, writing, exercising and meditation are much easier before the dog barks or the phone rings and rings all day long.
5:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time
After years of writing, talking and lamenting about the need to write a book, I have decided to write a blog for now instead. I wanted to write a parenting book, but the idea was summarily rejected by my oldest child, A., who never minces words. A. said that I could not write a parenting book while I was still parenting two other children under 18. Point noted even if I disagree to some extent.
My tale will begin with my own personal journey as a parent 22 years ago. So why am I waking up at 5:30 AM even though I am an empty nester already? Having a baby is life altering! Forever. Once a mom, always a mom. You can never again be SWOC (single without children). My body clock has been altered permanently to wake up between 4:30 and 5:30 AM. Why I still wake up at this time of the morning is a testament to how hard it is to break old habits.
I started getting up at this hour of the morning before the baby was even born. Gaining 50 pounds makes it hard to get comfortable. I tossed and turned all night trying to find a comfortable position. No rest for the weary. Little did I know that it would be years before I got a full night of sleep.
After the baby was born, sleeping was never an all night affair and never totaled 8 hours in a day. Pacing the floor with a colicky baby was the routine instead. I had never heard of colic before I had a baby. Now I will never forget what it means. It is a miracle of short-term memory loss that I had another baby. Luckily my next two children slept through the night after two weeks. A true blessing, if there ever was one.
A baby crying inconsolably all night long is something that is hard to forget. A.’s flailing, twisting and turning in pain was part of the nightly routine. My heart bled for my child as I tried every known remedy to relieve her agony. Pacing, rocking, driving around the block with the baby in her car seat, and sitting her on top of the running clothes dryer in her baby seat were just a few of the ways I tried to soothe her without resorting to medication. I am sure my neighbors thought I was crazy, but if they had children they could relate to my exhaustion and efforts to console her. No one wants a colicky baby except its mother.
My body clock has been wound up and set for an internal 4:30 AM alarm for 22 years and even after the colic subsided and A. went to school, I found that early morning might be the only alone time I would have during the day. My house is very quiet at that time in the morning. I can get a lot accomplished in uninterrupted peace. Reading, writing, exercising and meditation are much easier before the dog barks or the phone rings and rings all day long.
I love the stillness of 4:30 AM.
10-10-10 seemed like a good day to start something new. Today is the day to start telling my parenting story. Three amazing children and how they changed my life for better or worse, in sickness and health, till death do us part. Join me as I remember the roller coaster ride of parenting that continues to unfold every day!
Diary of a Yale Mom
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