Evening Adventures

After having our son, I have rapidly discovered just how interesting our evenings can be. Long gone are the days of romance. Now an evening consists of feedings, baby bath time, and soothing a child (this can take hours!) that seems to think that going to bed is a devastating event. There have been occasions where we seem to get through the evening smoothly - the little one goes to bed early and has the appearance of sleep, but we soon discover that he was playing possum. Note: Playing possum: definition - a child who has spent the last three hours in a deep sleep (or so you think), who then snaps his eyes open and wants attention the minute you try to silently crawl into bed with your husband.

What's worse is how fast this additional family member can ruin the "mood." Children just seem to know when parents are spending time together and they quickly respond by crying incessantly. Who can ignore this? As a mother, one's brain is rewired to instantly drop whatever one is doing....and run to the rescue. And getting back into the mood? Sorry dear, maybe another day, we'll have to schedule it in (like that works). If we manage to escape the wails of the forgotten and forelorn, just crawling into bed and having to remove soothers, toys, blankets....child from the sheets (this can take awhile), will result in the following.

"Well, we almost got away with it."
"No point now."
"Gads, I'm tired. How about you?" "Me too"
"Let's call it a night"
"Maybe next time"

All this adds up to a seven day period in which the hopeless couple ends up doing the same thing all over again with the same result. As for our darling bundle of joy? We love you and one day, your children will do the same to you.