Wendy is a very light sleeper. She hears every noise so the house has to be perfectly tranquil and calm for her to get to sleep. I on the other hand could fall asleep in the middle of a raucous party and be dead to the world, doesn’t bother me at all.
The other night my dog CheeWee was having a bad time and was up at 2am having a “Hack-Attack”. Wendy finally grew tired of it and relocated her sleeping quarters to the couch and left the dog in the room with me to hack away. The next morning Wendy and I awoke at around 7am, steeped our cups of double chai tea, and had just settled in to check email when Timothy came into the office and asked… “Where is Mark? I can’t find him, he’s not in his bed or your bed”.
I looked over to Wendy and said… “Yes, where is Markie? He’s usually the first one up”! So we ‘re out of our chairs and searching the house. We checked the beds, we checked the couch & bathrooms. About now, panic starts to set in. Where the *!@*# is my 6 yr old child? We double check the beds and start opening closets, looking in corners. By now, our hearts are doing the Conga and both Wendy and I start yelling his name… MARK!!! WHERE ARE YOU??? MARKIE??? Terrible, horrible thoughts start to creep into my mind. Did he wonder out of the house in the middle of the night? Is he in the woods? Did some pervert sneak in and take him?
I’m seconds away from picking up the phone to dial 911 when Wendy finds him wedged between the couch cushions. He had snuck there in the middle of the night to be with his mommy and somehow slithered on down into the crevice between the seat and back cushions. He was snoozing away, we could barely see him!
To any parent out there who has not experienced a brief or extended moment where your child is unaccounted for: All I can tell you is that there are no words in the English Language of which I’m aware that can adequately describe the feeling of mass panic that ensues.
I think I did that a few times to my parents.
Myself, I have felt what you both did a few times. I have been accused of being an overprotective mother, but I will do almost anything not to have that feeling!
Wendy purchased a leash for Markie, I kid you not! It like attaches at his wrist with velcro. She uses it when we go to festivals or anywhere with a large crowd. Some people may think its ridiculous, but certainly gives peace of mind.