Comments on: A Sleep Primer for Parents http://teenymanolo.com/2008/04/23/a-sleep-primer-for-parents/ Celebrating the Joys of Parenting and Childhood Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:58:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: valawhoo http://teenymanolo.com/2008/04/23/a-sleep-primer-for-parents/#comment-11187 valawhoo Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:37:18 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/?p=1120#comment-11187 Did someone mention getting a dog? Forget about that. Our puppy kind of sleeps through the night now (he's about 4 months old), but if he's hot, he whines. If he hears a noise outside, he barks. Sunday, we awoke at 6 a.m. to the lovely sounds of retching as he coughed up the grass and piece of gravel he'd ingested the day before. (Of course, such is our madness that we were actually RELIEVED. "He threw up the rock! GOOD BOY!!") My husband, who does not deal well with being sleep deprived and was still under the effects of a muscle relaxant he took the night before to deal with a back problem, stumbled outside with the kennel tray, while I graciously volunteered to doze on the couch and watch the puppy, because putting him in his downstairs kennel (the "condo") would be pointless - it would involve another good half-hour of listening to him cry. I managed maybe a total of 45 minutes of dozing by giving him a rawhide chew. Later, my husband mentioned getting up at 2 when the puppy threw up. "It was 6," I told him. "Remember, the sun was coming up?" No, he didn't remember. Next time, he's going in the kennel downstairs, and I'm going back to sleep. The good thing is, you learn to discipline them, because after a while, having a dog run the house just isn't livable. They have to learn to live within your constraints, not the other way around. It's good training for parenthood, is what I'm saying. Either that or the world's best method of birth control. Did someone mention getting a dog? Forget about that. Our puppy kind of sleeps through the night now (he’s about 4 months old), but if he’s hot, he whines. If he hears a noise outside, he barks. Sunday, we awoke at 6 a.m. to the lovely sounds of retching as he coughed up the grass and piece of gravel he’d ingested the day before. (Of course, such is our madness that we were actually RELIEVED. “He threw up the rock! GOOD BOY!!”) My husband, who does not deal well with being sleep deprived and was still under the effects of a muscle relaxant he took the night before to deal with a back problem, stumbled outside with the kennel tray, while I graciously volunteered to doze on the couch and watch the puppy, because putting him in his downstairs kennel (the “condo”) would be pointless - it would involve another good half-hour of listening to him cry. I managed maybe a total of 45 minutes of dozing by giving him a rawhide chew. Later, my husband mentioned getting up at 2 when the puppy threw up. “It was 6,” I told him. “Remember, the sun was coming up?” No, he didn’t remember.

Next time, he’s going in the kennel downstairs, and I’m going back to sleep.

The good thing is, you learn to discipline them, because after a while, having a dog run the house just isn’t livable. They have to learn to live within your constraints, not the other way around.

It’s good training for parenthood, is what I’m saying. Either that or the world’s best method of birth control.

]]> By: pamici http://teenymanolo.com/2008/04/23/a-sleep-primer-for-parents/#comment-11172 pamici Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:12:16 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/?p=1120#comment-11172 Yes, I quickly realized that what the books really meant by newborns needing to eat every three hours, was "every third hour, for the whole hour, every day, for several weeks." oy! Yes, I quickly realized that what the books really meant by newborns needing to eat every three hours, was “every third hour, for the whole hour, every day, for several weeks.” oy!

]]> By: Jennie http://teenymanolo.com/2008/04/23/a-sleep-primer-for-parents/#comment-11107 Jennie Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:39:11 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/?p=1120#comment-11107 At least the kitties won't eat you alive like giant squids or children... At least the kitties won’t eat you alive like giant squids or children…

]]> By: raincoaster http://teenymanolo.com/2008/04/23/a-sleep-primer-for-parents/#comment-11084 raincoaster Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:14:45 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/?p=1120#comment-11084 Cats? As if I'm not batty enough, you want me to turn into a Cathy comic! Cats? As if I’m not batty enough, you want me to turn into a Cathy comic!

]]> By: Jennie http://teenymanolo.com/2008/04/23/a-sleep-primer-for-parents/#comment-11082 Jennie Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:10:53 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/?p=1120#comment-11082 Raincoaster, get some cats... Litter trained at birth, grateful for food, warm and cuddly without having their paws out for every little thing... Raincoaster, get some cats… Litter trained at birth, grateful for food, warm and cuddly without having their paws out for every little thing…

]]> By: JaneC http://teenymanolo.com/2008/04/23/a-sleep-primer-for-parents/#comment-10919 JaneC Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:47:05 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/?p=1120#comment-10919 Every time my mother goes on a trip anywhere, my grandmother expects a phone call or email as soon as mom arrives. Mom is 59. The thought that my grandmother has suffered sleep deprivation for nearly 60 years...makes me want to put off having children a little longer. Every time my mother goes on a trip anywhere, my grandmother expects a phone call or email as soon as mom arrives. Mom is 59. The thought that my grandmother has suffered sleep deprivation for nearly 60 years…makes me want to put off having children a little longer.

]]> By: La Petite Acadienne http://teenymanolo.com/2008/04/23/a-sleep-primer-for-parents/#comment-10913 La Petite Acadienne Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:28:09 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/?p=1120#comment-10913 Oh dear. And I'm renowned in my family for my fondness for sleep (I could easily and happily sleep 10 hours a night). Maybe I should think twice about this trying-to-get-pregnant thing and just get another dog. :) Oh dear. And I’m renowned in my family for my fondness for sleep (I could easily and happily sleep 10 hours a night). Maybe I should think twice about this trying-to-get-pregnant thing and just get another dog. :)

]]> By: raincoaster http://teenymanolo.com/2008/04/23/a-sleep-primer-for-parents/#comment-10899 raincoaster Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:27:59 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/?p=1120#comment-10899 Gee, I wonder if I can return this uterus. I don't think I'll be using it now. Gee, I wonder if I can return this uterus. I don’t think I’ll be using it now.

]]> By: Metro http://teenymanolo.com/2008/04/23/a-sleep-primer-for-parents/#comment-10897 Metro Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:10:14 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/?p=1120#comment-10897 A recent study in Australia estimated that a baby costs its parents between 400 and 750 hours of sleep in the first year. http://www.abc.net.au/science/sleep/default.htm A recent study in Australia estimated that a baby costs its parents between 400 and 750 hours of sleep in the first year.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/sleep/default.htm

]]> By: gemdiva http://teenymanolo.com/2008/04/23/a-sleep-primer-for-parents/#comment-10893 gemdiva Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:13:22 +0000 http://teenymanolo.com/?p=1120#comment-10893 As they were wheeling me to the delivery room 31 years ago, my doctor said "from here on, your life will never be the same". I answered with "I bet you say that to all the girls" and asked him if I would be able to play the piano after my C section. He said "of course" and I said "Cool, I could never play before" Ba Dum Bum! Seriously, though, truer words were never spoken. I still ask my son to call me even now, if he's on a business trip, when he gets where he's going and when he gets home. Sometimes you just gotta know everything is OK. Being a Mom is a wonderful thing, but say bye bye to sleep. As they were wheeling me to the delivery room 31 years ago, my doctor said “from here on, your life will never be the same”. I answered with “I bet you say that to all the girls” and asked him if I would be able to play the piano after my C section. He said “of course” and I said “Cool, I could never play before” Ba Dum Bum!

Seriously, though, truer words were never spoken. I still ask my son to call me even now, if he’s on a business trip, when he gets where he’s going and when he gets home. Sometimes you just gotta know everything is OK. Being a Mom is a wonderful thing, but say bye bye to sleep.

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