November 12, 2003
Modern Times
The worst thing the 20th century has done to parents and kids alike is jet lag. The worst thing you can do to your kids (and yourself) as parents in the 21st century is traveling over several time zones twice in eight days.
In VA, we had kids who woke up around 2:30, then 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, and finally a good 7:30. Needless to say, the 7:30 was on Saturday, a week and a day after our arrival and the day of our return.
Now we have kids who don't have any rhythm at all anymore.
David was up until midnight yesterday. He went to bed at his more usual 8 pm today but woke up twice, screeching. Alan is still awake, after a brief nap from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. It's now 11:00 pm. He's up since 8:30 am and had only a one-hour nap today. He should be tired. He is tired. But he's standing in his crib, and says "Mama, Mama, Mama" like a mantra. It's nerve-tearing. I am dead tired and want to go to bed. But we already had a meltdown toddler episode today so I'm not ready for a second one by just leaving him alone and shutting the door to his room.
Not quite ready. It may come to that, soon.
The next trip to the States -- maybe without the kids? Or in a decade or so? Or both? And what was I thinking that we could go to Bali for a vacation next year?
Posted by claudia at November 12, 2003 11:13 PM