mommy ears

Sleep changes forever when you have kids. It just does. For lots of reasons. But mainly, it's because you get 'mommy ears'. When Boo Boo was born, I heard every peep she made in the night. If she squeaked funny I was by her crib checking on her. And then when she got a little bigger, if her dolly fell out of bed, I heard it. Or even if she just moved around, I was aware.

The years have gone on and things have relaxed a little bit. My little one is thirteen and she can find the 'potty' in the night without me and I don't hear every move she makes at night like I did when she was younger.

That's what made last night all the stranger. I was startled awake by the whispered sound of "Mom!". My eyes flew open but I didn't see her. I knew by the sound of her whisper she should be right by the bed, but when I looked all around, there was no one. My heart slowed and I put my head back on the pillow trying to figure out what I'd heard. Was I dreaming? What's the deal?

Then it hit me.

My husband's sleep apnea machine was whistling. If it gets slightly off kilter it can make soft, airy sounds. That's what I heard. Gee whiz! Once mommy ears, always mommy ears.