HI2020 #11: Flat On The Floor

Hindsight In 2020 #11: Flat On The Floor

My wife and I have two beautiful children. Our boy, Charlie, is three and our daughter, Ruby, is 18 months. We are blessed. Not only are they sweet, well-mannered (at least most of the time) and good helpers around the house; but most importantly, they sleep through the night almost every night. Both kids lay down around seven-thirty each night and wake up around six-thirty or seven in the morning. Yes, we love it. After the kids lay down, my wife and I spend some quality (quiet) time together either watching a movie, television show or individual activities we don’t get to do when the kids are awake.

That being said, there are those once in a blue moon nights when the kids wake up in the middle of the night and just can’t go back to sleep. Charlie will wake up and put up a fuss only when he’s sick. Other than that, my boy is a great sleeper. Ruby, on the other hand, is still cutting some teeth and growing some big girl bones. That means she wakes up a little more than Charlie boy. And this past Friday night, she gave us a run for our money.

Ruby Washing Her Car

Ruby Loves Flowers

Breakfast Time Is Fun Time w/ Ruby

Ironically, as my wife and I were laying down, snuggling up and getting ready for sleep, she began to cry. It wasn’t a loud, ear piercing scream; but it was a cry. So I got out of bed, let out a little sigh, and headed up the stairs. Poor Ruby couldn’t find her pacifier. I gave her precious passy to her, held her a little bit and laid her back down. I got back in the bed, snuggled up to my bride and got ready for sleep. I was drifting off good when…

Ruby started her crying again.

I went to check on her while my wife got the tylenol. We assumed she was teething. That’s what we told ourselves the entire first two years of my son’s life. If he was fussy, he was probably teething. Those chompers probably hurt coming through.

We gave her the meds, my wife laid her down and came back down the stairs. Now we're awake. Can’t go to sleep. We cut up for a bit, joke around and then get ready to go to sleep. The pillow was feeling so good and sleep was coming...

Ruby started her crying again.

With a huff, I went up stairs. I made sure she had her passy, covered her up and told her night-night. When I came downstairs, my wife was already three quarters asleep. She wasn’t completely out, but she was a little more than half asleep. I flipped my pillow, got comfy and closed my eyes. Wouldn’t you know it…

Ruby started her crying again.

I nudged my wife, hoping she’d hear the baby. No chance. She was out like a light. Then and there, I made a decision.

Ruby was going to sleep on this visit.

Before heading up the stairs, I grabbed my pillow and a blanket. At the top of the stairs I opened the door and saw my daughter. She was standing, hands on her crib, fussing. Poor baby. I laid her down, rubbed her back and sang her a little night night song. After she seemed content, I set up my pillow, laid down next to her crib and covered up in my blanket.

My daughter looked over at me like, daddy what are you doing? But then, you know what she did? She put her head down, closed her eyes and rested. Know what I did? The same. I closed my eyes, shifted around a little on the carpet and went to sleep.

I woke up a few hours later, snuck out the door and got back in bed with my bride. She hadn’t moved a muscle. It was five-thirty in the morning. I wasn’t upset. I was happy. Baby got some rest. Mama got some rest. Daddy got to help his daughter. I couldn’t have asked for more.

Here’s the thing. I know that, sometimes, kids need to ‘cry it out’. Sometimes they just want attention or they are really tired and just fighting sleep. In this instance, something was making my daughter uncomfortable. Very rarely does she need anything in the middle of the night. Instead of listening to her cry for another hour and me being unable to sleep through her crying, I called an audible. Some may think I ‘spoiled’ her by laying beside her that night. Some may think I’m crazy for sleeping on the floor. All that matters to me is this: my daughter appreciated me being there with her. And no, I’m not saying that everytime she cries I’m going to head up to her room with my pillow and blanket. No, no, absolutely not. However, if she does need me to help her rest again, you better bet I’ll be there. I'd sleep on that hard floor any night.

Ever done something a little silly or maybe even crazy for one of your kids? Do you remember your parents doing something out of the ordinary for you? I’d love to hear from you! Comment or send me a message.

Thanks for reading! Happy Friday!

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