Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Sleepwalking Weirdo

The other day I read this blog post about co-sleeping. Co-sleeping, for those of you who don't know, is when parents let their children sleep in bed with them. I think the reason is mainly to get the kids to sleep through the night. I don't know, because we don't do it. The kids have slept pretty well on their own. Besides, it's kind of icky. But, that's not the point.

The point is it reminded me of a dream I had the night before. Actually, I was sleepwalking. But I dreamt about co-sleeping. It was kind of like a co-sleepwalk.

In the middle of the night I got out of bed to use the bathroom. When I came back I left the bedroom door open. Tracy asked me to close the door.

"In a minute, honey. We have to put Little Eugene back in his crib," I told her.

"What are you talking about?" she asked me. "He is in his crib."

"No, come on. Hand him over. He's not sleeping in our bed anymore," was my reply.

"Eugene, our son has never slept in our bed. You are having a dream. Go back to bed." she told me.

"What?" I said with a pause, finally coming to. I slumped back into bed.

The next day I e-mailed Tracy to apologize for waking her up the night before. This was her reply:

Hi Eugene. Actually, you woke me up three times last night thinking there were babies in the bed. The first two times it was Olivia and then the last time (when you got up to go to the bathroom), you thought Eugene was in bed with us. I couldn't believe it - especially since you were up and walking around! :) I think we have switched roles!!

Love you,
Tracy

This really was a role reversal. You see, Tracy used to do this on a regular basis. For months after the babies were born, she'd sit up in the middle of the night and start shoving me out of bed. Then she'd frantically feel around on the covers trying to find the baby, who wasn't there. Being that she was a new mother, I tried to understand. But between you and me, I always thought it was a little weird.

Now I'm the weirdo.

Add that to my list of groups I previously thought only others belonged to:
  • Idiot Drivers
  • Unfit Parents

  • and today...
  • Sleepwalking Weirdos

6 Comments:

Blogger CINDY said...

LOL! Ya'll are brutal when asleep :^D

12:56 PM, January 05, 2006  
Blogger Gene said...

The first time my wife woke up thinking the babies were in our bed I had to break out my Karate moves to defend myself! Hiey-YAH!

2:23 PM, January 05, 2006  
Blogger Dana said...

Reminds me of a reacurring nightmare/dream I had when I was pregnant with my twins. I would dream that I gave birth to them full term but that they were only the size of a very small doll. And while I was caring for them I misplaced one. And they were so small I couldn't find them and was scared to tell my husband. Very weird. Obvious paranoia about becoming a mom!

Sleep well!

6:06 PM, January 06, 2006  
Blogger David Lim said...

I woke up one night and I saw a small head under my right arm. I FREAKED out thinking one of the girls was under me.

It took me a few seconds to realize: 1) Our girls (like your kids) have never slept in the bed with us; and 2) the head was that of a stuffed animal we use to entertain the girls.

I was relieved like you wouldn't believe, but the initial panic was so real I was still shaking minutes later and had to get up and walk around to calm down. So I totally relate to you and Tracy.

Just think how well we'll sleep once the kids start going out past curfew . . .

1:14 AM, January 13, 2006  
Blogger Gene said...

Thanks for the stories, guys. Parenthood must screw with everyone's brain.

Lately I've been waking up and seeing Tracy's head sticking out of the covers, not sure if it's her or Little Eugene. So I feel around for a baby body, which usually gets me an adult elbow in the ribs.

12:00 PM, January 13, 2006  
Blogger zombieswan said...

I used to think they were sleeping in bed with us all the time, and sometimes still do...and the poor cat freaks me out sometimes cause she'll jump off the bed & I think it's one of the babies.

I think it's a symptom of just being plain tired. So much of your time is spent holding babies that your brain can't imagine they aren't there.

10:32 PM, March 09, 2006  

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