Do parents of young children ever get enough sleep? The answer would seem to be, "No."
I still remember being so tired, I was able to fall asleep anywhere, anytime, when my children were small. They had erratic sleep patterns, often woke in the night, stayed awake for long stretches and didn't nap during the day. Years of sleep deprivation; remembering makes me weary, even now, thirty some years later.
We have grandchildren visiting. No naps today, except for parents, grateful for grandparents' extra help, so they can rest.
Brightly coloured leaves dropped into our yard (ours, plus contributions from neighbours) to cover the lawns. We'll rake them into piles later, make them ready for leaping and jumping and shrieking with delight--once the parents awake.
The parents are escaping this evening. Because they are here, they'll have the rare opportunity to get out by themselves and to experience a quiet, elegant meal away from home, without the company of persons under three years.
Luxury!
I remember those times, too. The beauty of an evening together without any children, and the bonus of free babysitting. Hope they enjoy their time together being a couple again, as much as we used to appreciate escapes by ourselves.
It is important to have balance between being a couple and being a parent, especially when there isn't enough sleep to go round.
This photo is mine.
