:: PRISMS - Ramblings From A Sleep-Deprived Parent

Ramblings From A Sleep-Deprived Parent

(3:30 a.m. EST)

by Margaret Miller, Herndon, Virginia

Patrick, Scott, Maggie and Deirdre It is 3:30 am in the morning. The house is dark and quiet, except for here in the kitchen. My daughter Deirdre is now on her second bowl of Cheerios and I am drinking my third cup of coffee. The sun won't be up for another three hours and by that time Deirdre should be down for a nap before the school bus comes.

This is a typical night/morning in our household. “Up before the dawn,” has a whole new meaning for me! I feel as if we, (Deirdre and I), are living in our own subculture; awake with all the other night creatures — like owls and hamsters — and living very different lifestyles from the average household. I do some of my best work before sunrise. My floors are washed; my carpets are vacuumed; and my laundry is folded, all before 7 am, just as the neighborhood is starting to wake.

I have this uncontrollable urge to run outside in our cul-de-sac and ring everyone's front doorbell. Why shouldn't everyone be up? But, I refrain, and just imagine how comfortable they all must be in their warm beds sleeping, just sleeping. “Oh to sleep the sleep of angels.” Right now, I would sleep the sleep of anybody!

Not much happens this hour of the day. Although in Tokyo it's already noontime — that's comforting! There isn't too much on TV, except for an old Perry Mason movie and Infomercials — lots of Infomercials! I've already learned how to start my own business and make a million dollars; lose weight fast; exercise with the Health Rider and achieve “Buns of Steel”; make beef jerky in the Ronco food dehydrator; and correct male-pattern baldness.

How full life has become! So, instead of TV, we watch Disney videos, over and over again. (You see, Sesame Street doesn't come on for another 3 hours).

Deirdre has become quite the little helper, though. She follows me around with a dust rag and mop. This is now part of her morning ritual. She may be tired, but at least she'll be clean.

Well, this is how our typical day starts. I try to think of all you other Smith-Magenis parents who are also up at that time. Maybe we should start a phone chain or a club. At least I have my “humor” and almost everything else is still intact. I have to remember that things could always be worse. Deirdre can run, and walk, kick a ball, give big hugs , talk, ride a bike, splash in a pool, laugh at a joke, tease her little brother, dance, say her ABC's, play on a computer, yell, tell me her birthday, YELL, do a somersault, say her prayers, eat spaghetti, and get through the day, even on very little sleep. I'm really glad for those hugs on days like this!!

I'll be thinking of all you other parents tomorrow night. I wish you all peace, quiet and sleep.