Notes in the Morning

One thing "they" don't tell you when you have kids is that you will never sleep the same again. Ever.
And, I don't just mean when they are babies. That's kind of a no brainer. New baby=no sleep.
But, toddlers have bad dreams, 10 yr. old girls have various, random maladies that necessitates middle of the night curing (usually Neosporin), and teenagers bring entire issues of their own.

And don't even get me started on the animals. Needing to go out. Needing to sleep on your face. Needing to run in a squeaky wheel that leads to nowhere. Needing to fill the entire bedroom with the most horrible aroma imaginable.

Needless to say, I haven't slept decent in 14 years. And, I love sleep. If I have to choose between chocolate or sleep, sleep wins. Hands down.
Lately, with my work hours, I'm lucky if Im in bed by midnight. Then, getting up early to get the boys off to school, doing school with the other two, then back to work, it's leaving me constantly craving a nap.

But, my 8 yr. old? He never sleeps. Okay, that's not ENTIRELY true. But, he's the last one to go to sleep and is up at dawn most mornings. School or not. And, amazingly, he is rarely tired. He goes 100 miles an hour all day,every day. He is like Hammy from "Over the Hedge" when he drinks the energy drink.

Most mornings, I get up to find him dressed and building with Legos. (Now, my 6 yr. old I have to LITERALLY, physically drag from bed, kicking and screaming. Never boring mornings here, I tell ya.)

Recently, the stars aligned and for whatever reason, there was a night when NOONE had to get up the next morning.

I begged Jarrett to please, please sleep in or at the very least, not wake us up!
"But, Mom, I am hungry when I get up"
"Well, eat a banana or any other quiet food."

Later, that night, after everyone was tucked in, I had the most brilliant plan. It was genius, I tell you.

I left a note where Jarrett was sure to see it upon getting up in the morning.
"Jarrett, there is a bowl of cereal on the table. There is a cup of milk in the fridge. Pour the milk into the cereal and eat! I love you!"

It solved everything. He could get up and not be hungry and I knew he would love "making" his own breakfast. And, I could sleep! See? Genius, right?

6:30 the next morning, I awake to Jarrett poking me on the nose. He leans close and says "Mom! Thanks for the note!!"

Totally missed the point, Hammy.

Oh well. Guess I can sleep......when the kids move out???