What a difference a day makes

After thinking that Number One was coping with her cold really well it all went to pot on Monday. She tried really hard to put on a brave face, but when her temperature went up and she could no longer breathe, she had to let someone know she wasn't happy.

And that's what she proceeded to do. She started with the childcarer, who quickly let us know that she wasn't feeling too great, and then on to Number Two, who thankfully was on hand to look after her for the afternoon. Then me, when I got home from work, and finally the doctor. None of this miserable-at-home-angelic-at-the-doctors-surgery for us - she made sure the doctor knew she wasn't pleased to be there, even though he assured her that her ears, throat and chest were all fine.

So home the three of us went, prepared for a very long night. Following a trip to New Zealand in January, after which we have taken weeks to get her sleeping patterns back to normal, we are back to long nights awake, and feeling like zombies during the day. Number Two and I are like chalk and cheese when it comes to this aspect of parenting. I will let her cry a little bit when she wakes in the night, hoping she'll get back to sleep on her own. Number Two can't bear the sound of his darling crying, and will have her out of her bed seconds after the first wimper.

Maybe I'm not as maternal as I thought. Or maybe this is the selfish side of me, rearing it's ugly head. I really love my sleep, and the warmth of my bed, and while I'm prepared to get up reasonably early in the mornings, it take a lot to get me out of it before the alarm goes off. Number Two really loves his sleep too, but he loves to keep Number One happy even more, and what has resulted is two nights now of him getting up, taking her into the spare bedroom, where they sleep together until the next day. And when she wakes up crying, he's right there to comfort her. I love that he's prepared to do this, and I think she does too. I only hope he's not making a rod for his own back.

Number Two is away overnight, at least he might get to catch up on some missed sleep. So tonight I'll find out if the special treatment Number One has had lavished on her has spoilt her. And whether my mothering instincts will outweigh my selfish desire to stay in bed when the going gets tough.