I worked shift work from 19 to 22 years old, mostly working the night shift (11pm - 7am) with the same group of people every week. We worked about 5 nights a week, including weekends. And I loved it. But over time I came to realise that it was taking a toll...on my body, my mind and more importantly, on my social life! I remember specifically when I had to leave one of Greg's birthday parties at 10.30pm and it sucked knowing that everyone was kicking on without me. But I had some good friends on the night shift, and we enjoyed chatting the nights away.
I used to be amazed that I made it home safely for another day, because by the time 7am rolled around I was so tired, my body just switched into automatic and all of a sudden I was home...having not noticed any of the drive to get there. I distinctly remember one particular birthday of Greg's when I was absolutely, beyond ridiculously, exhausted. I had volunteered to undergo the Bronzed Medallion course for a camp I was going on in the summer, so I had just completed 2 full days of swimming, swimming and more swimming to prove my physical worth. So you know that feeling that you get of tiredness, hunger and the need to crawl into bed for a lie down after a day at the pool? I had that times a THOUSAND! Oh, and did I mention that I had also completed a night shift between these 2 days? So all day Wednesday I was at the course, swimming my little heart out. I went home and slept for 3 hours, ate dinner and headed off to work for the night. I got home at 7.30am, ate breakfast and went and swam my little heart out for all of Thursday, which was a much more vigorous day, with testing of endurance included in the program. And would you believe it was Greg's birthday too?
So after I finished on Thursday, I went around to Greg's house to spend the evening with him. I fell asleep on the lounge within minutes. He woke me when it was time to leave for dinner. We were trying out a new place in town, and when my chicken schnitzel came out half raw, it was all I could do to not burst into tears. Poor Greg. Happy Birthday my love...here, have a wrecked, emotional mess.
But I must thank my years of night shifts for I feel it has put me in good stead to be able to sleep whenever I need to, regardless of the time of day, and cope relatively well when sleep is lacking. Which is handy for our current situation (although, can you call your daughter your 'situation?'). Now it must be said that Lucy is a fantastic baby. We have been very lucky with her, she is a girl of simple needs. Until recently it was a 3 step process to fixing her. If she was cranky we either feed her, change her nappy, or put her to sleep. And in the beginning, she slept through at 5 weeks old and continued to do so for the next 3 months!!! AMAZING!
Yet no matter how much preparation you can have and no matter how conditioned you think you are, new parents must all feel the same way at some point in time. Just completely buggered! Lucy hasn't slept through the night for a very long time now, and her nights range from 2 to 5 get ups. Which isn't great for her, or me. But we just keep trucking..
It had me thinking as I settled her in the rocking chair for what felt like the hundredth time last night/this morning. I used to be one of those people who didn't know how I would be with a baby, because I really needed my sleep to function. How quickly the body adjusts, especially when you are actually needed by someone who depends on you. I am certainly more irritable, snappy, emotional and closer to tears than normal, but I am still standing each day. I am surviving, with very little effort on my own behalf to do so, somehow you just have what you need to get through.
We all know that new parents are amongst those with little sleep. But I think I was worse off when shift working. Had me wondering what other types of situations could compare. Chronic pain, insomnia, illness, caring for another, anxiety and so many others. And then I thought about how it effects different people. For me, all emotions are magnified and tears are never far away (happy or sad). Greg experiences headaches. Lucy gets cranky.
I'm interested to hear how you respond to lack of sleep, for whatever the reason. It will keep me sane in the middle of the night to think you how you would respond if you were me.
So what'll it be? Remote in the microwave? Can't remember why you went downtown? Do you throw plates? Chop neighbours flowers for your vase? Spill it all, and give me some amusement in my time of need.
Ciao for now,
LG, Life's Good
My dearest Lauren,
ReplyDeleteMiss Ashleigh was a lovely 4 and a half YEARS old before sleeping through the night consistently - throw a newborn into the mix after 2 years 8 months of broken sleep and when Miss (newborn) Melissa was around 6 months old and also not sleeping through the night - I was reduced to a gibbering mess on a daily basis, operating mostly on autopilot, putting cornflakes in the fridge, responding in a zombie like fashion to any visitors etc. and I distinctly remember losing it completely one afternoon when I had (unsuccessfully) put both of them down for a sleep in the desperate hope I could catch up on some myself. I believe I had lost my temper with Ashleigh who was refusing to stay in bed and kept coming out of her room - she had starting screaming because I was angry with her and had shut the door to her room - which woke Melissa who was in full cry because my loud voice or Ashleigh's crying - or both - had woken her. I sat on the floor in the hallway between their two bedrooms and just cried...and cried...and cried some more - out of sheer exhaustion, out of frustration, out of guilt (bad Mummy for losing your temper) and out of fear of failure (surely no other Mother's could be as incompetant as me?)
It is something that all Mother's go through, regardless of whether their children are good sleepers or not - there is the tummy bug that does the rounds and in a desperate attempt to grab some shut eye between vomits you put the child in your bed - we all know how that one turns out! There is the waking stage of "I'm thirsty, I'm hungry, I'm cold, I can't sleep, I want a cuddle, I'm lonely etc. etc. etc. that comes and goes in stages for all of us. I can however say that it does pass, and somehow, we do all survive it. And for those of us who have survived it - and now have to yell to get our children out of bed every day, we know only too well what you're going through. And while it doesn't help you right now, I can tell you it will pass. Like everything else it just takes time. Much love and big hugs, Annie xxx
PS If I could send you sleep instead, I would. Hang in there!
I get grumpy! And grumpier and grumpier.
ReplyDeleteBut OMG I would NEVER cut flowers from my neighbours garden! I can't speak for the other loony neighbours though, judging by their full vase they are seriously sleep deprived.... Hee hee
LOL, oh Anne, I hope it didn't come across as if I was sooking. I know I have nothing to complain about compared to many others out there. :) But I'm glad that this will end and eventually a full nights sleep will be had by all.
ReplyDeleteEmma...I too would NEVER cut someone elses flowers. Imagine how embarrassed you would be if caught...my face is glowing at the thought!
For me, sleep deprivation brings on the aforementioned furious blushing, as well as crying about just about everything, and if some one is lucky enough to hang out with a sleep deprived Ket, they will probably receive blank looks, a scowl and maybe even a loud and irritated sigh in response to whatever they are talking about at the time! And I don't even have ONE baby! Yeeesh!
ReplyDeleteStill loving the blog Loz! From Ket xo
Hiya Ket! Great to see you are still reading along, and enjoying it! That makes me enjoy it even more! :) LOL re blushing! It is such an obvious giveaway isn't it? Love the irritated sighing, that cracks me up. So if you ever sigh in my direction, I will just assume you are tired and what I am talking about is indeed very interesting! ;)
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