Humor Life Writing

Why Don’t You Sleep At Night?

22nd January 2018

Isla looked at my face this morning and asked a very maybe wise beyond her years/obvious/ simple question:

Mummy, why don’t you sleep at night?

Isla in snow
What could I say?

Because I’m cold,

Because I’m reading,

Because I’m hungry,

Because I feel crowded,

Because I feel alone,

Because I think too much,

Because it’s too quiet.

Are you breathing?

Have I done enough?

How old am I?

How old are you?

Shit.

Because I’m crafting complicated sentences.

Fuck it.

What time is it?

What year is it?

Because I miss you,

Because I’m thinking of your face.

Because what the hell is that noise?

I’m hungry.

Should I just get up?

No, I’m cold.

Is that more snow?

And so, I looked at Isla this morning, and answered, ‘Because Daddy snores.’

(Read this for practical tips for a good night’s sleep.)

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Also published on Medium.

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29 Comments

  • Reply thatblogwherecheriemovestogermany 22nd January 2018 at 12:00 pm

    I agree, Because Daddy snores really does cover it all. 🙂

    • Reply Lorna 22nd January 2018 at 12:37 pm

      Neil laughed at that line! I was like, ‘Really, though?’

  • Reply Bookstooge 22nd January 2018 at 12:01 pm

    That is a lot that goes on in the mind behind the scenes.
    But what a great answer 🙂

    • Reply Lorna 22nd January 2018 at 12:34 pm

      And I still told the truth.

  • Reply Gill 22nd January 2018 at 12:18 pm

    You missed out mine. It’s the steroid treatment and the fortnightly chemotherapy. Awake till late (or early) then zonked all day! Love because Daddy snores, that just about covers it all! X

    • Reply Lorna 22nd January 2018 at 12:33 pm

      Sending you good vibes, Gill. xox

  • Reply Em Linthorpe 22nd January 2018 at 12:54 pm

    I understand lady

    • Reply Lorna 23rd January 2018 at 8:16 am

      I know you do. Like happy nursery acceptance day yesterday? Yes and no? <3

      • Reply Em Linthorpe 23rd January 2018 at 3:51 pm

        Oh aye – exactly that 🙂 x

  • Reply angelanoelauthor 22nd January 2018 at 1:41 pm

    Yes, so many reasons! And I love how this simple post conveys all the complexity of how we share grown up information with little people. Its not that they can’t handle the answers, it’s that the answers are so gnarled and numerous speaking the whole truth becomes almost impossible. I like how you handled it, and I really loved the post.

    • Reply Lorna 25th January 2018 at 9:24 am

      Thank you, Angela.

      The P.S. to this post was she happily replied, ‘OK!’ and went off to school. Oh, to see the world like that again.

  • Reply John CR Duff 22nd January 2018 at 1:58 pm

    So
    much to ponder
    packed into
    the brevity
    of thoughts
    love
    sadness
    creativity
    the quiet
    country life
    the clamoring
    busy mind
    thoughts
    flash spark
    bounce about
    kinetic
    parents skull
    fishing
    for the honest
    answer
    to the thoughtful
    sensitive
    inquisitive child.

    It was
    is ever
    thus.

    ~ Campah

    • Reply Lorna 22nd January 2018 at 2:26 pm

      See, not my fault. 😉

  • Reply uncommonlywellblog 22nd January 2018 at 2:27 pm

    Love the creativity of this. Packing a lot of adult issues into a simple response for a little one – well done. 🙂

  • Reply thebeasley 22nd January 2018 at 2:35 pm

    So many truths in this poem. Love it

  • Reply maryandjohnineurope 22nd January 2018 at 6:22 pm

    YES!

  • Reply lifeandotherstories1 22nd January 2018 at 7:40 pm

    Lol! That would be my answer too xx

  • Reply fancypaperblog 22nd January 2018 at 8:36 pm

    This says it all x I loved it.

  • Reply Judy E Martin 23rd January 2018 at 3:36 pm

    The perfect answer! 🙂

  • Reply Sonia 23rd January 2018 at 6:00 pm

    Lol!!! All those things whirl round my head too, but that was a great simple answer 🙂

  • Reply Helen 23rd January 2018 at 8:30 pm

    Oh gosh – it is so hard when you can’t sleep, especially if it’s someone’s snoring to blame!

  • Reply Laura (@dearbearandbean) 23rd January 2018 at 9:09 pm

    Ha Ha yes I have this problem too! It’s very annoying

  • Reply Rachel 23rd January 2018 at 9:52 pm

    Aww this is so beautiful and lists so many reasons! If I cant sleep it is because my boyfriend is snoring too loudly or because I am worrying about something the next day and then I worry I wont have enough sleep!

  • Reply Ana De-Jesus 24th January 2018 at 2:43 pm

    Oh bless you, I also have struggles sleeping at night because I have insomnia. I have anxiety which means my mind tends to go into overdrive when I am trying to sleep. It is amazing the questions that children ask us though!

  • Reply Lauretta at Home and Horizon 25th January 2018 at 3:11 pm

    This is so true! Sleeping can sometimes get challenging. Haha

  • Reply Kira 26th January 2018 at 9:15 am

    Daddy snores so much we’ve kicked him out the bed and his on the sofa ha

  • Reply fattymccupcakes 27th January 2018 at 6:31 pm

    This was hilarious, but really sweet at the same time!! I think Daddy snoring adequately satisfied her inquiring mind ?

  • Reply Robin @ Imperial Crochet 29th January 2018 at 12:00 pm

    Love that final sentence! And I think you’ve captured my trying-to-fall-asleep mind.

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