Did you know there was a night last week where I was in bed by 9:00? And I wasn't even sick? The sad thing was it was not something I desired. And it is not meant to be confused with actually sleeping at 9:00, since I was in a hotel room surrounded by my own loud sleeping kids and other loud people who can't seem to close doors gently or talk quietly in halls. So I basically was lying in the dark trying not to think about the people who had slept in the same bed as me and all the germs that were on the bedspread that I was careful not to touch.
With our kiddies, it is impossible to tuck them into a strange bed and expect them to quietly fall into slumber. Especially if two of them are sharing a bed and the toddler girl is trapped in a playpen in full view of the freedom of everyone else and Ethan...well, Ethan only can stay still if he's tied down. So we had to resort to drastic measures of creating the sleep environment for everyone all at the same time. Mom and Dad included. No lights, no TV. Just darkness so everybody knew the party was over. The kids were so tired that they fell asleep quickly. As was Hub since he can sleep whenever he feels like it. But me? I was ticked. I was wide awake in a smelly hotel room with little to do but ponder the meaning of life. Ike and Mitch has snagged the bed closest to the TV and I didn't dare mess with anyone's sleep and turn on the lights. But my Mommy Brain is trained to know that if I go to sleep at the same time my kids do and then wake up at the same time they do....then where the heck is my rejuvenation? My awake brain needs a kid break so it can function at full speed the next day.
Well, fortunately for us all, my awake brain had plenty of break as I probably slept only a couple of hours. Too many kid noises and hotel noises and worries of germs crawling on me for me to get too relaxed. But I know there are several more frequent vacationers than us. How do your awake brains get a kid break if you are all going to bed at the same time? Or do I need to better train my hyper kids to be able to sleep with the lights on? Or do I just get that nanny that would solve a lot of other problems as well?
9 comments:
I can't even begin to imagine the laundry list of problems that Super Nanny would find at our house! Usually when traveling we are all so exhausted that we crash - but I can't go to sleep without some reading, so out comes the old book light (which is sadly dead now) and I don't disturb too many people. The fear of germs, well I don't have a solution for that one - we have one of those black lights that makes all the nasties show up... I wouldn't recommend bringing it along - it grossed me out just using it in the kids' bedrooms... we scrubbed a few walls the next day!
I went to Disneyland with some friends. My one friend is an admitted germaphobe, and she cloroxed the whole room. It was great I reaped the benefits, and I didn't have to carry the Clorox...Kids + Hotel = craziness. We always fork out the extra cash for 2 rooms or a suite. And my question is how on earth do you sleep at Lake Powell...that is just pure insanity. You are a better woman than I!
My hotel/kids experience exactly! Husband can sleep anywhere, kids fighting over where to sleep for two hours, and no sleep because of all the door slams until 2 am. I do think suites are good too. Close the door and have your own tv. But that works only if the kids can settle down at an early time! Ha...that is why I like home best.
Lake Powell is better then a hotel. Once you get the kids calmed down and in bed sleeping (or at least quietly trying to sleep), you can either lie there and look at the pretty night sky or you can go down stairs without disturbing the kids and do whatever until it is time for you to retire. Wow! That was a long sentence. But, I am always up for defending the blessed vacation of Lake Powell (favorite place on earth).
Hotel sleeping is a long awaiting outing in our household. As long as the hide a bed matress is on the floor (knowing Garrett won't fall off and get trapped in the metal bed framing) I can sleep pretty good. Getting to sleep is the hard part, I do agree, but once asleep I'm usually out for the count. I love the fact that hotel rooms are soooo dark, I could sleep til noon (if it weren't for overly energic children)! We've enjoyed the courtyard, they don't have those heavy, germ laden compforters any more...they're just small "table runners" to add color to the bed and they're easily removed! I always make sure to bring flip flops since you never know when the last time the carpets have been cleaned thoroughly! : ) And...you still have to put toilet paper on the seat just in case there's MORE germs there. Even though the bathrooms looks clean, are they clean???
Did you see that 48 hours where they go in with blue light that lights up all of the nasty stains (blood and otherwise) and sick living organisms that leach to your hair, skin and clothing??? It's a good one. When I go, I ask for clean linens and extra sheets so I can cover the top bed spread with sheet as well as the underside so as never to come in contact with the been-around-the-block bedding. I also make sure the the kids have an adjoining, although lockable room next to ours. I don't see what the big deal is. You and Hubby go to bed early so as to wake up ready and refreshed? Nanny and kids look beautiful the next morning when we finally unlock the adjoining room door.
PS you've been tagged-do it or die
PSS,
Love ya!
cc brings up a good point. You need a "suite" to call it a vacation. Put kids in the 2nd bdrm--problem solved.
Or, if you don't want to fork over the xtra $, just turn on some really boring adult shows (for us that would be Basketball) but that might not work in your case?? A BYU Devotional? (kids will be asleep in no time and bonus--you can count it as scriptures)
For our stay at my mom's this wknd I am planning on going all out with BUG/SPIDER spray. Those are way bigger and creepier than germs.
Maybe you should have snuck a book into the bathroom? Oh yeah -- that would probably be too germy to be pleasant. Um. I'm the one who can sleep without thinking about germs so you'll have to ask your brother. He just leaves the television on and tells everyone to be quiet (or something like that).
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