Milestone wake-ups and the magic of slumber
Posted on | December 28, 2005 | 10 Comments
As I lie in the semi dark with my son waiting for his breath to settle into the rhythm of sleep, I wonder about the bigness of his small self. So much more than the tiny bundle of limbs, soft and warm curled in the nook of my arm. One look into his big beautiful eyes and I find myself swimming in the wide pools of his spirit.
It amazes me that something as vital and natural as sleep is something we have to learn. Of course, there are the times when exhaustion overcomes him and he sinks, sack-like into a deep sleep wherever he is. But on a nightly basis letting go of his body—surrendering to the tide of sleep is not something he knows—I must teach him how to still his active little body. Find a rhythm. Breath in sleep.
Each time his body works itself through a sleep cycle, the neurons in his brain send him the busy active messages his body is reading all day: stand, stand, stand, they say. Reach. Climb. Walk. Before I come to bed he sleeps in his crib, and usually I hear him cry out at least once. I come to find him awake in the dark, standing. Then I nurse him, hold him close, allowing the tide of my breath to wash over him, carrying him back to the world of sleep.
Sometimes in these long moments with him in the dark I realize that I am at the cusp of one of the mysteries of being human. Wonder saturates me each time he awakens, trailing the stardust of dreams, a smile blooming at the corners of his eyes.
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10 Responses to “Milestone wake-ups and the magic of slumber”
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I am Christina Rosalie
Hello. I'm so happy you've stopped by!
I am a multimedia storyteller, digital strategist, idea starter, stalker of wonder, finder of four leaf clovers, MFA graduate student, and mama of boys. My first book,
will be published by SKIRT! Books in September, 2012.
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December 28th, 2005 @ 3:37 am
amazing sketch Christina, one of my favorites. you really captured the essence of that moment, when our kids sleep. beautiful.
December 28th, 2005 @ 7:16 am
Sometimes when my children have finally fallen asleep, I can’t tear myself away from standing beside their beds filling up my whole head with their angel peacefulness.
December 28th, 2005 @ 9:09 am
that was beautiful
and i love the sketch…
i would love to have a talent like that
December 28th, 2005 @ 9:10 am
Although your sketch is truly lovely, what really got me RIGHT HERE was that last line.
December 28th, 2005 @ 9:42 am
Exquisite – your sketch is as beautiful as the words that accompany it..
December 28th, 2005 @ 9:52 am
“I find myself swimming in the wide pools of his spirit.” Amazing! What an aware mommy your are, and of course the sketch is lovely.
Your blog makes me slow down and breathe, really READING what you have to say. Thank you for that.
December 28th, 2005 @ 10:51 am
beautiful sketch, and a beautiful perspective of your baby’s slumber.
December 28th, 2005 @ 11:32 am
I love how you make us all slow down and notice more of the amazing things around us Christina….thank you so much!
December 28th, 2005 @ 2:17 pm
Your perfect words perfectly contain the feelings that fill all mothers in those amazing moments of their child’s sleep. I had only to read this and 27 years disappeared since my child was a babe.
December 29th, 2005 @ 1:16 am
Thank you for articulating those moments so beautifully, that I could appreciate them anew. I’m struggling with night nursing, myself.