Jan.
18, 2000 - Tuesday
Why do kids not seem to like falling asleep? I can remember not wanting to go
to bed as a kid myself and I suppose that it was because I thought I’d
miss out on something. But, what about Harry? Just about every night as bedtime
approaches, Harry gets the squirmies. The same thing happened this afternoon
toward the end of a bottle I was feeding him. Clearly moving toward his regular
afternoon nap, he nonetheless woke up every so often as if something terribly
uncomfortable were happening. He’d act all out of sort, get pouty-faced
and wiggly, and make like he wanted more milk, but after just a couple sips
he’d be off to nod again. He does this with his mother all the time, especially
during that late evening feeding.
Some kids are afraid of the dark, but it’s hard to believe that’s
it with an infant. I suppose a young brain is so open to stimulus and new information
that Harry, too, might not want to miss out on any possible growth opportunity.
Of course as adult, most people love sleeping. Paula Poundstone once quipped
about kids and sleep and how mature it would be for a kid to say "you know,
I’ve been at the blocks and crayons all afternoon and I think I’m
going to turn in early." Now, that weekend afternoon nap can be quite a
luxury, as is that extra twenty minutes in the morning. And, for new parents…well,
I realize we have very little to complain about with Harry since we have occasionally
gotten a solid and refreshing night sleep, but they sure don’t come back
to back very often.
