Owls Don’t Sleep

Moment of 2023 — sweet.pub writing contest

It was just another night in 2023, the year that taught me the art of juggling life with a toddler and a baby.

We had finished the dinner and bath routine, and my 7-month-old son was finally asleep. My 3-year-old daughter, however, was still ready to play.

“Owls don’t sleep,” she stated when I told her it was time to put her PJs on. I should mention my daughter’s favourite stuffed animal is a snowy owl.

“True, they don’t sleep at night, but they do sleep during the day.”

“It’s light in the day,” she said, a frown on her face.

“It is, but owls have excellent night vision so they prefer to sleep during the day and come out at night.”

“I am an owl.”

“Are you? How about we fly to bed like an owl?”

“But I’m not tired, I’m just blinking slowly, see” my daughter insisted.

“I do see. You know what? I think your owl likes to stay awake all night so he can guard your dreams.”

“I think he does.”

“Tomorrow, when you wake up you’ll have to tell him all about the dream you had.”

“Okay.”

She finally agreed and off we went to bed for kisses and cuddles.

When I returned to the kitchen, I realized that it’s moments like these that make the chaos of parenthood worthwhile. The house was still a mess, but I felt truly content and happy with my life.

The year 2023, with all its challenges, has given me a most precious gift — the realization that in the whirlwind of raising children, there are so many tiny moments that can be precious memories if only we remember to appreciate them.