Right. The Snot Queen is throwing a tantrum. It seems that either she's ridiculously over tired and desperately needs a nap or else she's been possessed by demons whilst my back was turned. Either way, according to her at least, her little world is ending and it's all my fault. Even just looking at me can bring on a bout of head and body thrashing rage which can only end in tears as she invariably accidentally whacks herself on some random surface.
Whatever happened to my lovely, placid child with the ever present smile who loved her mammy and spent her days doling out kisses and napping for Ireland? Who is this squalling, crusty nosed imposter with the red face and angry eyes who fights sleep like a seasoned warrior, her battle cry ringing out loud and clear as her willful eyelids attempt to drift closed?
We are now well into day three of the napping strike. My nerves are shot and my patience is wearing desperately thin. I'm developing a small twitch and just yesterday discovered a grey hair in my thick, dark mane that had not previously been there. My work is falling by the wayside as my poor brain is even mushier then normal. Just yesterday, I caught myself about to put the Orange Juice into the cups and mugs cupboard instead of back into the fridge where it belongs.
The nights are just as bad. Tired beyond the point of reason, the enfant terrible cannot settle down and so wakes reglarly to rage against the universe that has so forsaken her. Myself and my partner take turns trying to soothe the infant overlord who in turn rejects our overtures with a mix of scorn and derision.
Of course, this sudden hatred of all things sleep related is not without reason. I see the flushed cheeks and the drool soaked pajamas. I can't help but notice the frequent nappies and red, rashed chin and it is this which helps me to keep my last shred of sanity intact.
My baby is teething. She's not being deliberately horrible, she's in pain and has no other way to show it.
As a friend of mine frequently says, and indeed, this phrase has gotten me though more sleepless nights then I can count...
"This too shall pass"
And in my limited experience, it always does.
my heart skipped a beat when I saw you are repeating the mantra I have passed on to you and the rest of the lovely Cork mums, that my bestest friend passed on to me. I am thrilled it has got you through those bleak, frustrating, insane nights.
ReplyDelete"This too will pass".
Big hug to you my lovely lovely mummy (and to the poor teething imp)
Thanks lovely:) Teething imp is doing much better now, sleeping through again, so you see? Your advice is true! It did pass:) Now all we have to do is get her back to going to bed before Midnight!!!!!
ReplyDelete