Mischievous look expert, February 2013

As I contemplate having reached the one-year mark after Elan’s tonsillectomy to treat sleep apnea, I am frequently struck by the ridiculous nonsensicalness of sleep in my house. I just finished an essay about it, my first non-blog humor piece, sparked by an idea I got – when else? – in the middle of the night.

Elan and I have been reading Shel Silverstein before bed lately, which I love because I get to witness his delight and remember my own in these same poems. And we get to giggle together and give each other knowing little looks. Elan is an expert at giving knowing, mischievous little looks. When we came across Shel’s take on children’s sleep, I wanted to print it out and tape it to my bathroom mirror. So that on those what-the-heck-just-happened mornings, I might remember laughter is an option.

Frightened, by Shel Silverstein

“There are kids underneath my bed,”

Cried little baby monster Fred.

Momma monster smiled. “Oh, Fred,

There’s no such thing as kids,” she said.