Get-to-know-Jennie Week, Day 4 – Hive and Nest

Here’s another tidbit you should know about me: I sleep fast and I sleep hard. I’m out the second my head hits the pillow, and I stay out all night long. It’s really hard for me to explain how sacred sleep is to me. I used to be a night owl, but since I get up at 5:30 every day, that’s not such a good idea. Mister is not lucky enough to sleep soundly (and sleeping pills do not work very well on him, poor guy), but I have trained my children to be good sleepers. We Ferberized every single one at five months of age* (by “we” I mean “I”).  And now they go to bed without so much as a request for water.  They stay in their beds and sleep like the dead.  We also have a strict “no kids in our bed before the sun comes up” rule.  I thought all families were like this, but I’ve realized that most parents have to deal with kids bugging them all night long.  Sleep is the #1 priority Chez W. I can handle anything my kids dish out as long as I’ve gotten a good night’s sleep..

Akin to this is the paranoia that my house will burn down/there will be an earthquake in the middle of the night.  The worst part of this in my mind is me standing on the street shivering in my unders.  So I make sure I wear pajamas to bed every night.  And since I will be appearing in public (theoretically) they need to be nice-looking pajamas; none of this sleeping in a T-shirt and sweats. I have a decent collection of cute P.J.s.  But I’m also very particular because I only like  pajamas that are stretchy knit.  No woven cotton, no flannel.  This is a tall order to fill, but for the sake of my neighbors, I press on.  I wouldn’t want them to see me standing out in the cul-de-sac in the middle of the night wearing just any old thing.

*”Ferberize” is based on the book Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber.  Some people who haven’t read the book claim it’s a cry-it-out method. Not so!  It does require some crying because children are being taught to sooth themselves and get themselves back to sleep without requiring a bottle, a boob, whatever.  That can be a bit of an adjustment, so there are tears.  But there is also reassurance from the parent every few minutes.  For every person who pooh-pooh’s Ferberization because it’s too mean, I just have to say, look at my children sleeping soundly.  And look at me so well-rested every night.  That’s all the proof you need that Ferberization works!