Children and Sleep...The joys of working nights

One of the great things all parents must worry about is who is going to provide child care while they work. But what if you work graveyard shift? Then you have to worry about who is going to watch the children when you sleep. Well, in our case, there is no one at this time, so for 4 days every month, I get to loose sleep.

Today however, has been a good day. As I lay asleep somewhere between being wide awake and REM sleep, I can feel the warmth of a childs quilt (that I made) being place over me, then the softness of a childs hand as they pat my head and brush my hair out of my eyes.

I can hear someone ask me if they can watch the Tigger movie and have a cookie. I ask about breakfast and up pipes the 5 year old telling me it is okay, she fixed everyone cereal. I get up to look around and the table is cleared and the bowls and rinsed.

Now, I feel bad. I feel bad I have to work, I feel bad I can't stay awake for days on end like I used to when I was 20 and not on anti-depressants. I feel bad that my shift is being hosed again and I will have to stay on this shift. I feel bad my husband can't get a job in Washington so I don't have to work graves.

Now, they are sitting quietly with their pillows and blankets telling me it is nap time and they are ready to lay down. If you have to work graves, it doesn't get any better than this!