Being a parent is a very interesting job. You get to know this little being you have created better then you actually know yourself. You know when they are hungry, tired, cranky, lying. With knowing these things you also know how to satisfy each one of these needs. Your children don’t have to know this, that you already know what they want before they ask for it, it’s like some secret parent code, and you don’t even have to go to meetings. Of course being a parent isn’t for the faint of heart, you don’t get much sleep, if you’re like me you get to gain weight that you will never have time to loose, but every time you look in those little faces you think it was so worth it. (There is a reason moms wear sweats, just saying).
Every night at around 8pm like clockwork the argument of going to bed begins. My son is a child who hates sleep, asking him to sleep is like asking him to inflict some form of sick bodily harm to himself. There are first the tears, and then the excuses, he’s "thirsty", he has to "poop", he’s still a "little hungry", and he hasn’t given us all "kisses and hugs". You would think that after 4 years on this planet he would just let it go, get some sleep. But not my Zaryus, he will fight it, and us, until we have to beg, threaten, yell. It’s a cycle that no one really wants to witness, but is amusing to watch. To date he has never won, we stand strong, and eventually he will sleep. It is how he falls asleep that is questionable in itself.
He will put on layers in the summer, and lay under blankets. He will fall asleep on the floor, on piles of toys, and will sleep for hours. He sleeps with his feet on the walls, and his head on the floor. I tell people about this and everyone thinks that this, among other things I am making it up. They also don’t believe that 4 year old boys use words like obnoxious, transforming, among others in daily conversation.
I don’t record our conversations because that would be weird and if you were to in fact have a conversation with him that he decides is worth his while he will let you in on how he feels on the world in his own special way. Otherwise he might not speak, another issue my children have, being silent if they don’t feel like entertaining the adult who is asking to be amused.
As a mother I feel like I am somehow responsible for what a great well rounded child I have raised. I know it has only been 4 years, but I know we will continue to be monumental. I now have another child, who also does not like to sleep. I think that this may somehow be in my genes or the fact that sleep is my best friend, and all that I did while pregnant with either of them was sleep in any free moment I had. His sister is less vocal about it; she just keeps us up at random hours of the night and won’t be satisfied until she is rocked to sleep while watching Elmo. I never said life was easy in our house.
I’ve digressed. Zaryus while being a very bright boy has not learned that you cannot out smart sleep. He has learned that if he refuses nap in school he will be on yellow, (which is not as good as green, but not as bad as red). He does try to rationalize with me by saying "well mom green is excellent, and yellow is good". I like the way he thinks, and I do believe he will one day be a great politician, or a lawyer, something or someone who is good at lying to people and will morph their point of view by using his big words, and charming smile.....
So while I continue to raise my little politician, and take pride in his each and every achievement, I would like to leave you with the images of some of the more recent ways I have caught him sleeping. Hey he may be on to something, he always seems well rested and in good health.
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