Journey through the Thirties

Crying

I can't stand to listen to her crying. It starts out as a soft sobbing moan, but, in a few short minutes, turns into a screaming tantrum. It's unbearable and I'm having a hard time understanding how I'm going to get through the next four minutes and 30 seconds of my life.

My daughter won't sleep. It's been five nights of the same. I give her a bath, sing a favorite lullaby and gently lay her in her crib for the night. Within minutes the crying begins to grow in strength and my resolve becomes weaker.

I've been told by her doctor that I should give her five minutes to cry. At the end of the five minutes, hopefully, she will be asleep.

To the average person five minutes is not a long time. To a mother whose child is lying in a darkened room screaming until she starts to choke herself, five minutes is an eternity.

I only make two minutes and 27 seconds.

Better luck next time.