Grannie Kathie and I are back with Jack and his young parents in Nelson for a few days. When we last visited in person Jack was just five days old. Now at nine weeks he is bigger, longer, stronger, wide-eyed, physically reflexive, and, mostly, lots of fun. I say “mostly” as parents know that babies cry, complain, poop, pee, and show occasional distress. I must say that Jack’s lungs are in perfect working order. Otherwise he cuddles and coos, wiggles and warms. He loves to play, especially in the mornings. He plays on land and in the water, in the bath and in the buff.
What Jack does most is learn. He takes in his new world, moment by moment which when you think about it, is a lot. Soon he will mimic movement and eventually imitate speech. We’re not there yet. Right now he is learning to manage his digestive system – bring on the OVOL — along with his food routines (as directed by his mother backed up by his father). Most importantly he is learning about going to sleep and waking up.
Speaking for my adult self, I love sleeping. Whether napping during the day (I am a fan of daytime slumber) or at night, I enjoy my sleep. I fall asleep easily though I struggle a bit more these days to wake up. I am curious to watch Jack who wakes when he is hungry — fair enough; no alarm clock necessary; most nights usually after four or more eyes-shut hours. Then it’s cuddles and feeding with Mama. So there’s a great association of feeding with waking. Why wouldn’t he want to get up? The best news is that breakfast is already on tap, served at body temperature, and physically satisfying – at least that’s my understanding. I was never breastfed as a child, so I have no infantile memories to recall. Thank you Dr. Spock. Years of healing therapy await me.
So for Jack, if waking is wonderful what about sleeping? He does to fight this a bit. Mum and Dad use all sorts of techniques to move him towards the land of doze: Dim the lights; reduce distractions; sing or otherwise make sweet melody; talk, cajole, read with him – not to him — and when necessary, pray. The hardest thing I remember from when our kids were little was my own loss of sleep trying to help them sleep. I would carry our son into our small Saskatoon prairie kitchen. I would put him in his carrier and swing him gently back and forth. All was fine . . . until I stopped. Admittedly, sometimes my swings were a bit too strong. Thankfully, I never let him fly, but at times he must have felt that he was on the Tilt-O-Whirl at the fairground.
I hear many stories from people of all ages about sleep. Some stories are good news; others not so much. I do worry about folks who cannot sleep. I know some struggle to stay awake during the day. A good balance between waking and sleeping is so essential for our good health, for positive social interaction, for mood, confidence, inspiration, and an ability to cope with and flourish within what life sends our way.
Jack will figure out waking and sleeping in his own time. In his teens he will sleep in; later in college years he may pull an all-nighter or two. Needs and circumstances change over time. For now, bring on those lullabies:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
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