William can sleep anywhere. He tests this hypothesis frequently. He likes to take his three special blankets, his pillows, and his menagerie of stuffed animals and set up camp. It’s the only time he actually makes his bed, if I can actually call the patch of floor he’s called his own a bed.
I’ve found William sleeping under his bed, beside his twin sister, outside our bedroom door, on the landing of the stairs, and under the desk in our office.
Locating William is the real reason I check on my kids at night before turning off my own light. It’s my nightly scavenger hunt, an adult version of Where’s Waldo William?
The other evening, I went to kiss my kids good night. Vivian was snug as a bug in her bed; William was AWOL. I looked on the floor. It was relatively clean, at least as clean as a carpet can be when it hasn’t seen a vacuum in a fortnight or three. Still, no William. I checked the office; no William. I checked the bathtub; no William. I checked Vivian’s bed; no William.
Then I noticed that the laundry bin was dumped over. Nothing unusual there. But then I looked closer. I stepped forward, squinting in hopes my night vision would improve. I moved nearer still, toes testing for wayward limbs.
I crouched and looked.
There he was.
I interrupted my husband’s special programming (i.e. a sport involving a ball) and said this:
My husband investigated.
I got the camera, because that’s what experienced bloggers do.
I got Thing 1, because I like motifs that are as subtle as a tattoo on the forehead of a bald man.
I’m not sure where I’ll find William tonight. In fact, I’m not even sure why he’s become a suburban nomad, squatting in seemingly abandoned corners of our house.
Maybe he’s going for squatter’s rights: if he camps out long enough, he’ll eventually lay claim to our entire house. Then he can kick us out and watch TV all day.
I love it: “Where’s William?” Knowing what part of the country you live in, I hope he doesn’t decide to take the show outside before spring!
Thanks for the giggle, Leanne!
Wendy
Good point about the weather. At the base of the Rockies, even summer isn’t always safe from snow. Thanks for commenting, Wendy!
That’s great. I wonder if he’s sleepwalking or just against vulnerable tactical positions.
And don’t worry about telling me how long it’s been for those carpets because I don’t know what a fortnight is let alone 3 of them.
LOL. Well, three fortnights requires one to do math…Next time, I’ll throw in some Physics too. It might help your slam dunking.
How long has William been leading you on these nightly scavenger hunts? I love that he relocates his whole nest with him. As someone who sleeps with three pillows and two blankets myself, I can totally relate.
I also love Clay’s postulation that W finds the bed a “vulnerable tactical position.”
Yes, “vulnerable tactical position” explains it well, doesn’t it? William’s been on his walkabouts for a couple of years now. He goes in spurts where he does it nightly, then resigns himself to his bed for a couple of weeks.
!! *SNORTS* Well he’s clearly gifted. He can sleep anywhere.
You’re right, that is a gift. I think I used to be a gifted sleeper; now I have a 30 minute routine (plus the stars need to be aligned properly). Sigh.
I’ve got one for your Whiteboard Wednesday. I said this gem to my 5yo twins this morning…
“Your curtains are NOT toys!”
Christi Corbett
http://christicorbett.wordpress.com
Hilarious. I can only imagine what they were doing with curtains. Why is it that kids like non-toys better than toys?
Hahaha!! I have a child like that… she plays and plays, and then she DROPS in random places. It is not uncommon to find a high heel clad, bracelet wearing, magnadoodle toting, sombrero wearing Emma in odd corners of the house. Glad to hear she’s not the only unique sleeper!
Last night at 9pm while I was safely tucked in bed reading and trying to will this flu from its certain onslaught, my 2yo was driving her Barbie car and Barbie around my room to prove that she was, indeed, NOT tired. Just in case I hadn’t been paying attention to her antics, she repeatedly informed me and her Barbie that she was not tired. So…I asked her, “Would you be tired if you slept in Mommy’s bed?” Of course, the answer was a resounding, “YES!” Barbie was instantly abandoned and my daughter, her “baby” and her three blankets all joined me for a blissful night of tossing and turning and being kicked and being asked for water and being asked for her soother and…and…and…today I have the flu.
Leanne, I was so tempted to add random apostrophe’s to my previous post just to drive you a little nut’s. If I’m home with the flu, other’s should suffer too. 😉
Your son his hilarious!!! My daughter loves making a home in our laundry basket but she has never fallen asleep in there yet… I never thought it would be possible but now I know it is! Maybe one day she’ll do just that… and if she does, I’m sending you a picture!