8.15pm...I put them all to bed. A while later she wakes up..I brush the hair from her face and wipe her tears..Shhhh and I leave the room......She wakes again..I stretch on my tiptoes to the top bunk and tuck the doona around her...shhhhhh...I close the door softly...Later..She cries..I close the open window and take her to the toilet...'Night Gracie', I say...'Night Mama', she replies...Later again she wakes and I give her panadol and change her into cooler PJ's, yawning all the while...I leave the door slightly ajar...I go to bed...Drifting away..She cries out...I sigh..She cries out again this time saying my name...I go...I lift her from the bunk and in desperation carry her to our bed. She's hot and fidgety and falls from the bed...The crying begins again in earnest...She folds her arms around my neck and our foreheads rest against each other. I brush my fingertips along her brow over and over...For a time her sobs make her shake..They dissolve into little snuffles and eventually...at last... quiet even breathing.. Her arms unwind themselves and we turn away from one another but with our backs still touching...
Good night Gracie......See you in the morning.. 3.00a.m. At last I sleep...Motherhood..The Late Shift...
Oh - Celeste, that is just BEAUTIFUL, what a gift with words you have :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo, to go with equally beautiful sentiment.
ReplyDeletebeautifully said. hope you get some more sleep tonight! gorgeous photo too :)
ReplyDeleteOh what a fitting title - I am going to have to lift that one! The Late Shift! I remember nearly 15 years ago of the late shift wth my DS. Such beautiful words and what an awesome pic!
ReplyDelete