Mrs M
yoda76WHY DO YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN MORE WHEN THEY’RE ASLEEP?
January 30th 2007 01:42
And why does inspiration to write find me in the wee hours of the morning when I should be sleeping? In any case, I digress.
Why do you love your children a little more when they’re asleep? I remember hearing this line in an advertisement a few years ago and it resonated with me.
Like most parents, every night before I go to bed I check in on my children. Even after I’ve gone to bed I often have an overwhelming urge to get out of bed and go back and have another look. I watch them sleep for a while. Listening to their breathing and watching their chest rise up and down; watching all the little twitches and involuntary movements their bodies make while they sleep; I look at their hands, their feet, their ears, nose, eyes and mouth; wondering to myself ‘are they are really comfortable in that position?”
But it’s true. I love my children a little more while they’re asleep. Why? My instant response is because they look so peaceful and vulnerable. I just want to envelop them with love and protect them. I could sit there for hours but I’m sure the urge to hug them will be too much and I’ll end up waking them. And that can’t be a good thing for anyone at 3am.
On the lighter side of things, maybe it’s because they’re not talking therefore not whinging and whining. Let’s be honest, it helps.
But when they are asleep everything is stripped away. All the baggage of the day is gone and there is nothing but a child and a parent and of course, love.
Why do you love your children a little more when they’re asleep? I remember hearing this line in an advertisement a few years ago and it resonated with me.
Like most parents, every night before I go to bed I check in on my children. Even after I’ve gone to bed I often have an overwhelming urge to get out of bed and go back and have another look. I watch them sleep for a while. Listening to their breathing and watching their chest rise up and down; watching all the little twitches and involuntary movements their bodies make while they sleep; I look at their hands, their feet, their ears, nose, eyes and mouth; wondering to myself ‘are they are really comfortable in that position?”
But it’s true. I love my children a little more while they’re asleep. Why? My instant response is because they look so peaceful and vulnerable. I just want to envelop them with love and protect them. I could sit there for hours but I’m sure the urge to hug them will be too much and I’ll end up waking them. And that can’t be a good thing for anyone at 3am.
On the lighter side of things, maybe it’s because they’re not talking therefore not whinging and whining. Let’s be honest, it helps.
But when they are asleep everything is stripped away. All the baggage of the day is gone and there is nothing but a child and a parent and of course, love.
| 152 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Love and stuff,
katyzzz
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
But most obvious - My Fiancee. When awake he's a powerhouse of opinion, fully animated, but asleep, his perfect long black lashes fall on his pale cheeks, peace surrounds his form and I could just sit there and stroke his doll perfect black hair off his forehead all night. Why asleep does he inspire in me my most fierce protective and loving urges, when awake I usually want to wring his neck?
Comment by David
I don't have any children. Don't plan to have any ... I love children, as long as they're other people's ...
But one thing?
I certainly love a lot of adults more when they're asleep ... (most especially modern people masquerading as painters ... ***
David ...
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Happy to hear it.
Hi Kleonaptra,
Yes yes yes. Growing up I had cats as pets and yes I felt the same way then. You're onto something. So it's not just parental love - it's just love.
Hi David,
Modern people masquerading as painters? Dare I ask?
Thanks for the visit and the comments.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
I don't care what anyone says, thats the truth.
Thank you.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Thanks for the visit and the comments.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Oh I know...there is just something and it's not only because they're finally quiet!
With the youngest....his looong lashes filtering shadows upon his cheeks and his little cherub lips and his little hands and...ohhh, he's just lovely.
The thing is (technical term)....even when they're older...they just look so...young and vulnerable...and this great big ball of protective energy just grows inside and you wish you could just throw it over them and shroud them in your protective veil.
And then they wake up and totally piss you off because they're part of a generation of young adults who need to learn that parents, after a certain age, are safety nets not hammocks.
grrr.
Sigh...love.
(I'm awake because my husband is away and I don't bother sleeping)
Be well Mrs M...
DuskDevi
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Children are wonderful--always, and yet--in an especially magical way in peaceful slumber!
Be well!
Jeanne
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Well I have littlies and they very much think I have an open bed policy. I had two (plus hubby) in my bed last night and I moved to the foot of the bed because I was too buggered to do anything about it. (That whole writing thing I try to do
And why don't I just boot them out before they get there? Guilt. Nasty thing guilt.
When I was there age, I would do the same to my mother. Climb into bed with her and she never once kicked me out.
Aaaaaarrrrggghhhh!!!!! I have no recourse.
So yes, they're gorgeous in their own beds. Different story when they're in mine.
Thanks for the visit and the comments.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Does the urge to check up on them subside as they get older?
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
When he's sleeping, he's soooooo beautiful...his little fingers entwined in our hair...yes, it's ouch but lovely...his face, his freckles, his eyelashes...why oh why do they grow in to teenagers?????
BUT...it is impossible to have him sleep in our bed while we're trying to sleep...for the smallest member of our family he sure as hell takes up a lot of space!
(an aside...wow...quite a few people awake still on Orble...notifications popping up all over the place!)
At one stage...we had 5 under the age of 12 dive all over us in bed...if they did that now we'd die!! The 4 eldest are 6' and over!
Hope you get your bed back tonight Mrs M.
Guilt free.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
My eldest is 21.
He has a girlfriend.
Enough said.
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I don`t have any kids Mrs M but have dealt with enough of them to know that when they are sleeping?? BEST time of the day. I took my brother and my cousin Christmas shopping a few years ago...oh my word! At one stage they were having a snow fight...in the middle of the mall...in the Christmas display! And I stood there like an idiot, teeth clenched, trying to get them out of there. That night, when they were sleeping? Well the thought of grabbing the pillow and suffocating them did flash through my mind, but was quickly gone when one woke up, gave me a sleepy smile and out stretched hand...lovely!
Kids certainly are a joy, but at the moment it is an even better joy when you can give them back to their parents
Ash
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Wow 5 under 12. That's impressive. I have a 15 month old, 3 year old and 5 year old. I'd like to have a large family but I just don't think I'm made of the stuff. Maybe one more.....hubby's looking nervous.
Hi Ash,
Oooh how very cute. That dreamy smile. Especially when they try to stay awake to see you but they are just too tired.
But yes, probably not a good idea to smother the children, it's a tricky one to get out of.
So running a muck in the christmas display. Did you feel all eyes on you?
Thanks for the visit ladies and the comments.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Anonymous
When I was 8 or something, my parents friends used to say "oh, hes such an angle" and they used to reply with "yeah, when hes sleeping"
I do like sleeping
Great post, Mrs M
- Anthony
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Twins? Relief? I'd be heading for the bar. I take my hat off to anyone who has twins, triplets etc. Amazing stuff.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
still rofl at Dusk! my word! cringe......
Comment by Hope
Gifted Parenting
Freelance For Life
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
And your dad didn't notice that his pillow seemed a little more lumpy? LOL. That's great. Not great that he thought he killed his only son, but a great story.
I like sleeping too. I miss it so
Hi Ash,
Yep, I'm still laughing at Dusk's story too.
Hi Hope,
Yes, it's amazing how calming an experience it is to watch them sleep. I find that too. I can walk in there all wound up and walked out relaxed.
Thanks for the visit and the comments.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Because we are such a big family, we have a lot of privacy and space rules...We have this knock 3 times and wait for a response policy...wait 10 seconds if there is no response...but I honestly thought someone was in pain...to this day I wonder...why couldn't I tell the difference?
It's called naive denial (...naivede...)
My son was amused (after his initial embarassment) but his girlfriend (whom I just adore) was mortified!!!
I have since fitted a lock on his door.
And no longer check up on the older children sleeping....
Dusk
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
you are toooooo funny! *lol*
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Dusk...naive denial. That's a good one.
My client pleads not guilty Your Honour. She is suffering from naive denial.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Thanks for the visit Melissa and the comment.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Wendi
Comment by Wendi
I think the ideas come during that "tween" time because our conscious mind has let go of control but our subconscious mind hasn't yet begun to distort the imagery of our minds.
Just a theory.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Good comment about love. It makes a lot of sense.
I also agree with your theory about writing. I think it has a lot to do with our subconscious and conscious minds letting go into free thought. I just hate it when I don't drag myself out of bed and then in the morning those ideas are gone.
Who needs sleep anyway?
Thanks for the visit and the comment.
Love & stuff
Mrs M