[Adventure] Insomnia

[Adventure 19]

Who says insomnia has to be boring? I have many adventures during sleepless nights.

The darkness has a way of setting the mood for many amazing conversations with various children who also happen to be having trouble sleeping. We've talked about serious things, frivolous things, things we wish would be open in the middle of the night so we could do something more constructive with our time and/or have fun.

I've gotten lots of housework done, videos edited, and created church social media images while awake during the night with no interruptions. 

I've had the opportunity to sit outside in peace, enjoying the fresh air and beautiful night sky, and just exist for a while. 

Something about being alone in the darkness sparks creativity in me. I've written countless blog posts, created works of art, designed costumes, and made many a prop after 2AM. 

Many late nights have been spent in worlds created by others. It's amazing how much reading one can do when the house is asleep and the only needs that need to be met are one's own.

And then there are the not so fun adventures to be had during pre-dawn hours - the ones spent in the emergency department with a sick or injured child, or sick or injured myself. Or the nights spent tending to a sick family member or three. 

But even those adventures don't need to be all that bad. Our youngest, an emergency department frequent flyer due to her aptitude for dislocating joints, has a tradition of going to the local 24 hour pharmacy to buy popsicles following a late night ED visit. When our children were younger, I spent many a night up with pukey or congested and coughing children watching movies and laughing together despite the misery. 

I think perhaps I don't have insomnia, but rather am nocturnal. Either way, I enjoy the opportunity to chat with my children or create things or get things done or delve into a good book when the rest of the house is asleep.