“Hush little baby don’t say a word.” The song I sing as I stand at your crib, the weight of your 20+ pounds in my arms, the fan noise playing in the background and the light from the tv flickering in the hallway.

It’s been a rough couple of nights for you and me. A couple of hours of sleep interrupted by your sleepy wail coming from across the hallway. As we play the game of which bed are you most comfortable in, yours or mine, I’m counting the hours until its time to function again. 4 hours. 2.5 hours. 30 minutes.

A night’s worth of sleep spent rocking you, soothing you and singing to you.

But, it’s okay. The cry you send out in the middle of my slumber reminds me that you’re still mine to calm. While the world shows its ugliness day in and day out, your cry reminds me of the goodness that is still left.

For now, you need me as much as I need you. When your tummy upsets or your chest is congested or your dreams become too much, you need me. These nights will end one day. You won’t need me as much as I need you, and I’ll be longing to hear you cry across the hall.

While the bags under my eyes become darker, my coffee becomes stronger and my arms become heavier, I’ll enjoy tonight. Every toss. Every turn. Every wake. Because you need me as much as I need you. So, it’s okay. Cry, baby. Cry all night.