I had a roommate in college who would keep crazy hours, which included her boyfriend in our room until way past curfew. I could sleep through anything. Lights on? No big deal. Two people talking? Not interested. Printer smoking? Not my problem. I could sleep through it all.
So what happened? It’s only been 11 years, yet everything has changed. We live on a city street that, while noticeably busy during rush hours, doesn’t seem too bad the rest of the day. – except that really it is, and the sound of cars driving past at random intervals drives me crazy. I can deal with this okay in the winter, but now that it is the season for open windows, this noise thing is becoming a real problem.
Solution one is to simply leave the windows closed. And broil alive while we sleep (or attempt to).
Solution two is to open the blinds and put a box fan in the window, thereby masking the traffic noise. My problem with that is that I sleep facing that window which introduces my second sleep intolerance issue: store lights. We live right across the street from a Walgreens (really, every one here in St. Louis does – they are everywhere). Don’t get me wrong – I love having my own personal vending machine right across the street, but cannot for the sake of anything fall asleep with that red glow on my eyelids.
Which brings me to solution number three: sleeping in the basement. This seems like a fairly logical solution – it’s cool and quiet and the Walgreens glow does not penetrate. But we had a major bug issue in the basement last summer and I have a good memory.
So solution number four would be what then? Holiday Inn?
All this to say that here I am, exhausted from the first of many Maydays, and worried about not being able to fall asleep. And sort of wishing for winter to come back already.
Half-Pint House 
I have 2 suggestions – a sleep mask and ear plugs, a tired mommy’s best friends!! š
LikeLike
Bummer!
Ear plugs… good suggestion… I use them many nights!
I secretly pine for the first frost, even while being relieved that the kids can run around outside and soak up lots of Vit D. Not because of noise and lights, though. My problems are more “Mother Nature” related… ants in the house, spring and fall allergies, mosquitoes.
LikeLike
I was going to suggest a sleeping mask, too. My mom had one when we lived in — this is shocking, brace yourself — St. Louis. Our back deck overlooked McCausland Ave. and the “River Des Pere” which I think is French for “huge cement drainage ditch.”
My parents, having the back bedroom, were treated light from passing traffic dancing across their walls all night. (At the time, I thought this was rather fascinating and kind of pretty, like the Aurora Borealis. I doubt my parents felt the same way.
Anyway, hope you find a way to get some sleep soon. If you are anything like me, than the saying, “If mama ain’t happy ain’t NOBODY happy,” rings especially true when mama isn’t feeling rested.
LikeLike
I was going to suggest a sleeping mask, too. My mom had one when we lived in — this is shocking, brace yourself — St. Louis. Our back deck overlooked McCausland Ave. and the “River Des Pere” which I think is French for “huge cement drainage ditch.”
My parents, having the back bedroom, were treated light from passing traffic dancing across their walls all night. (At the time, I thought this was rather fascinating and kind of pretty, like the Aurora Borealis. I doubt my parents felt the same way.
Anyway, hope you find a way to get some sleep soon. If you are anything like me, than the saying, “If mama ain’t happy ain’t NOBODY happy,” rings especially true when mama isn’t feeling rested.
LikeLike
What about a white noise machine? I am addicted and can’t sleep without it. Every night, our house sounds like it might take off a runway.
The consistency of the sound helps mask the random noises that bother me…..
LikeLike
What about a white noise machine? I am addicted and can’t sleep without it. Every night, our house sounds like it might take off a runway.
The consistency of the sound helps mask the random noises that bother me…..
LikeLike
Is rearranging your bedroom an option?
LikeLike
Is rearranging your bedroom an option?
LikeLike
White noise machine and/or fan somewhere else in the room. This weekend we went camping and stayed in cabins that had a rather loud A/C unit, and my entire family slept through an extremely loud hailstorm on a tin roof. Now I’m investigating white noise machines for our house. Kevin uses one at work to drown out the female chatter in the cubicles around him.
LikeLike
White noise machine and/or fan somewhere else in the room. This weekend we went camping and stayed in cabins that had a rather loud A/C unit, and my entire family slept through an extremely loud hailstorm on a tin roof. Now I’m investigating white noise machines for our house. Kevin uses one at work to drown out the female chatter in the cubicles around him.
LikeLike
How about the fact that I just now noticed all the snazzy patchwork avatar things? Nice.
I think I came up with a solution today. The problem is that I have to wait until June to put it into action. We have three rooms upstairs. The two facing the busy street are the ones we sleep in (all the girls in one, us in the other). Ours is also home to all my crafty stuff (and it needs a pretty large space to accomodate it all). The third room is the playroom.
After school, I’m thinking about making our current b bedroom the play/crafty room and the playroom into a bedroom. That will get us off the busy street and away from Walgreens. Will also give us a normal bedroom again. I think I will really like this plan.
Now for June to come.
LikeLike
How about the fact that I just now noticed all the snazzy patchwork avatar things? Nice.
I think I came up with a solution today. The problem is that I have to wait until June to put it into action. We have three rooms upstairs. The two facing the busy street are the ones we sleep in (all the girls in one, us in the other). Ours is also home to all my crafty stuff (and it needs a pretty large space to accomodate it all). The third room is the playroom.
After school, I’m thinking about making our current b bedroom the play/crafty room and the playroom into a bedroom. That will get us off the busy street and away from Walgreens. Will also give us a normal bedroom again. I think I will really like this plan.
Now for June to come.
LikeLike
We have (nextday blinds???) blackout shades in our rooms. They were a little expensive, but they were worth every penny. Sleep is a precious commodity.
LikeLike
We have (nextday blinds???) blackout shades in our rooms. They were a little expensive, but they were worth every penny. Sleep is a precious commodity.
LikeLike
I like your plan, Megan. Very logical, not to mention free.
LikeLike
I like your plan, Megan. Very logical, not to mention free.
LikeLike
You know me… I know ALL the tricks.
The sleep mask is one, but what I do is sleep with my head between two pillows – blocks noise AND light. I wish I was kidding, but I have resorted to it too many times to count. It really does work. š Hope you get a great nights sleep soon…
LikeLike
You know me… I know ALL the tricks.
The sleep mask is one, but what I do is sleep with my head between two pillows – blocks noise AND light. I wish I was kidding, but I have resorted to it too many times to count. It really does work. š Hope you get a great nights sleep soon…
LikeLike
I’m guessing turning on the a/c is not an option? Or, how would a fan in your room, but not in the window work? I like the rearranging idea.
LikeLike
I’m guessing turning on the a/c is not an option? Or, how would a fan in your room, but not in the window work? I like the rearranging idea.
LikeLike