After a brief business trip that included a lot of late night traveling and early morning meetings, your husband got home last night at 2:30 am and slept until 8 this morning when he got up and went to work. He's wiped out.
You were dealing with the return of colic baby and slept from 11:30-1, 1:30-2:30, 2:45-4, and 4:30 to 5:30. You are also wiped out.
However, a friend has offered to sit for your son tonight while you and your husband go out. You don't really want to go out: you'd rather just go to bed, but this offer is not likely to be repeated (and you can count on one hand the number of times you've been out without your son since he was born 8 months earlier). The friend cannot be at your house before 7 pm and cannot reschedule for another night in the near future.
What do you do?
You go. You can sleep when you're dead.
Posted by: Brenda | May 12, 2006 at 11:22 AM
Can you go to a hotel for a quick couple hours of sleep?
Posted by: Jenn | May 12, 2006 at 11:38 AM
Make dinner reservations nearby for 8:30. Take a nap from 7 to 8. Bring dessert back for friend so she will come back again soon! Have fun =)
Posted by: DebbieS | May 12, 2006 at 11:57 AM
When friend arrives, run, do not walk, to nearest hotel and check in for a few hours sleep, room service, and bad TV.
Posted by: Carla Hinkle | May 12, 2006 at 12:43 PM
I would say sleep, and I know I am in the minority. But my husband works nights, not all nights, but some nights, and he is exhausted. I do not deal with a colic baby I deal with a teething baby who wants to nurse when she should be sleeping. And while it isn't all hours it is interrupted sleep.
Husband and I have been out once since daughter was born (nine months ago) and while it would be nice for the two of us to get out of the house together, the idea of being able to go to sleep a little earlier together as opposed to spending money on an overpriced dinner that we couldn't really afford and being so tired we can't enjoy each others company, isn't that appealing to me....but this is my personal opinion. And since I know the "wiped out" of which you speak, sleeping would be my option.
Posted by: Amanda | May 12, 2006 at 01:01 PM
Go! You'll porbably have a better time than you think you will. You can go out to eat, which only involves sitting and eating, be home by 9:30 and in bed by 10. No dishes, no cleanup. I feel like I'm in this situation every time we schedule a sitter (always after 7 because we still don't have anyone who can handle twins alone before their bedtime), but I've always been glad I went!
Posted by: Emmie | May 12, 2006 at 01:04 PM
You'll probably get a second wind. Since I can count the times on one hand that we've been without my dear daughter since she was born TWENTY MONTHS ago(!), I would be inclined to go out to a quiet dinner and come home to bed. Just because those opportunities are so few and far between, and people are even less likely to volunteer to take care of a toddler.
Posted by: Midlife Mommy | May 12, 2006 at 01:06 PM
Wait. what time will the sitter be at your house? I cn't go to sleep before 10 pm the earliest anyway, and sitting arond the house exhaustedly taking care of a screaming baby will drive you batty. If you can be home by, say, 10, and just conk out then, I'd say go for it. However if your baby goes to sleep early - mine doesnt before 9'ish - then I'd say forget the day out and go to sleep.
Posted by: Mindy | May 12, 2006 at 01:07 PM
Go GO GO!!!!!! Even if it is brief, it still makes you feel human for a few hours.
Posted by: heather | May 12, 2006 at 01:08 PM
Go! There are many different ways to feel rested--I know I always feel better after a few hours where I can be "off" and someone else is watching the Madam...even if I don't manage to sleep during that time.
And IA with the previous poster...depending the Boy's bedtime, maybe you can sleep from 7-8pm and go out to dinner at 8:30pm?
We should all have these problems! ;)
Posted by: Monica | May 12, 2006 at 01:08 PM
You can begin your evening at a coffee bar. Trust me, the caffeine won't stop you from sleeping later on this evening.
Posted by: Summer | May 12, 2006 at 01:21 PM
Go to a boring movie and sleep in the theater?
Posted by: Moxie | May 12, 2006 at 02:02 PM
Can you go to your friend's house and sleep there while friend watches the baby?
Posted by: kelly jeanie | May 12, 2006 at 02:21 PM
I'd take him to her place and get a long nap in anticipation of what you'll face tonight. And, just maybe, have some sex without listening/expecting to hear the Boy.
Posted by: Julie M | May 12, 2006 at 02:39 PM
Go. Please. So the rest of us can live vicariously through you.
Posted by: deborah | May 12, 2006 at 03:21 PM
I'd go out. Sometimes I get a second wind in the evening, especially if there's something I'm looking forward to. You'll be tired, but you'll have fun.
Posted by: Mandy | May 12, 2006 at 03:48 PM
Go out, you know you won't sleep if you stay home.
Posted by: Nors | May 12, 2006 at 04:03 PM
Go get his and her pedicures and/or massages. Then pick up takeout and bring it home. I think the cardinal rule of parenting in a town where you don't have family is to Never Say No to Free (and Trustworthy) Babysitting.
Posted by: ValleyGal | May 12, 2006 at 05:16 PM
I'd at least go out to dinner. It's not likely you'd fall asleep before 9 or 10 anyway, and why not get a nice meal out of it?
Posted by: Melissa | May 12, 2006 at 07:13 PM
GO! There is rest and then there is restoration. GO!
Posted by: Kira | May 12, 2006 at 10:41 PM
This just happened to us. My mother-in-law was doing her regular Thursday afternoon Boy shift and my husband came home from work and MIL said she could stay longer if we wanted to go out to dinner. We were both wiped and almost sent her home but went and grabbed a quick dinner. Neither of us wanted to at first but we wound up having a good time. GO!
Posted by: swissmiss | May 16, 2006 at 02:30 AM