Overnight Success by Karen L. Alaniz
In keeping with the October theme on the A Wild Ride Web site, Guest Blogger Karen L. Alaniz offers her sweet story Overnight Success.
Other people’s children had been asleep for hours, but my son was still bouncing off the walls. When he was a toddler, he just ran until he could run no more. He was never much of a napper, but when he finally did get tired each night, he’d just fall asleep wherever he was. Then his daddy would carry him up to his room and tuck him into bed. But Joshua was getting older now. He needed to be in bed at a reasonable time, but instead he was jumping off of sofa cushions. I had to figure out a way to help my energetic little boy, so I started with what had worked for his brother and sister- routine.
We started with a warm bath. Next we went to his room where I read him a nice-calm book. Then he said his prayers and I tucked him in tightly saying, “Snug as a bug in a rug.” And finally, I kissed him on the forehead and turned the nightlight on and the overhead light off.
“Nighty-night.” I said on my way out.
There, that was easy, I thought as I settled in with a good novel.
But then I heard the words that every weary mother dreads.
“Mommy, I can’t sleep.” Joshua said from the doorway.
The weeks passed and my resolve weakened, as I began to simply expect that Joshua would follow me back to the living room. I no longer bothered to open the novel. I tried bribing, coaxing and threatening him. Nothing worked. He only fell asleep if I was lying in the bed next to him or if I let him fall asleep on the sofa in the living room. But even then it took him an hour or two to finally succumb to sweet slumber. Finally I realized that there was one thing I hadn’t tried yet - teaching him.
One night after reading to Joshua I stayed in his room.
“I’m going to teach you a trick to help you get to sleep.” I said. “Close your eyes and imagine sheep jumping over a fence. As each one jumps, you’re going to count it until you get to a hundred sheep.”
“Why?” He asked.
“Well I don’t know why. I just know that counting sheep is supposed to help you get to sleep.” I said.
He closed his eyes. I closed mine too.
“Mom.” He said. “I can’t see them.”
“Just keep concentrating and you’ll see them.” I said.
After a while he started to count…out loud.
“Joshua.” I said. “Count to yourself.”
Half a minute passed.
“One hundred!” He exclaimed.
“A hundred?” I asked. “Joshua, you did not get to a hundred that fast.”
“Yes I did.” He argued.
“You couldn’t have.” I argued right back.
“But I did.” He insisted.
“Joshua. I was counting too and I was only on 10.” I explained.
“Well my sheep are faster than yours.” He said. “Mine were racing.”
No more explanation was necessary.
Next week on the Blog: Karen's Personal Sleep Strategies. In the meantime, check out Sleep Strategies on A Wild Ride.
Karen L. Alaniz is a freelance writer. She has also written a book, Breaking the Code-A Daughter's Journey. When she isn't writing, she is enjoying life with her three children, two cats, one dog and a few visiting birds. Visit Karen's site Write Now.
Photo © Jaimie Duplass - Fotolia.com
