When I was breastfeeding my oldest son, there were many nights when I felt as though I was the only person in the whole world awake. As I paced the floor, rocking and jiggling and humming under my breath, in that age-old dance known as ‘settling’ the baby, the city was dark and still, broken only by the occasional swoosh of a car out the front, or a distant siren.
Where were they going, those people in the car, I wondered? On their way to work? On their way home?
When I began writing my first novel, all those years ago, I would sit alone at night in my study, listening to the tapping of my keyboard, one ear out for the whimper of a baby. The darkness settled around me and the silence was as thick as it can only ever be when there is a sleeping child in the house.
No silence is as deep as that silence. It was just me and my words.
Five years ago, I discovered social media, and the night came alive. I found all those people, the late-night people, who had probably also spent years thinking they were the only people awake in the middle of the night. Suddenly, I was not alone anymore.
This is a shout-out to the late-night people. The ones who respond to an email at 11.16pm. Because they’re alone in a silent house, too, and sometimes you just need to know that someone else is awake.
I’m less of a late night person now! Maybe 10.30 or 11pm at a push, but mainly everything happens during more sociable hours. Much easier to plough through the day that way. Glad the night feeds are a thing of the past! Cheers, Lucy
Heelllooo! Been a little bit TOO late night for me lately, but I kinda wouldn’t have it any other way. x
Oh – I should have checked last night – I was still up (but sneaking to bed) – trying to convert to an early morning person, but the change is hard!
I have never ever been able to make that change!
That is true you do need to someone else is there. I feel alone at night when Dad turns of the lights for Mum and him to go to bed.
But at least you know they’re still in the house. I like that.
*waves* Hello! Breastfeeding at 4am here!
*waves back* Hang in there!
Well, it’s 3.45am, lovely lady. A big one for me – jet lagged, whelm, etc. But how I love that you are a late night person. I love late night people. xxx
I think the best people are, don’t you???