There’s no instruction manual for raising a baby. Once the bundle of joy arrives home, our lives are forever changed. This was how it was for Caroline Olling Anderson, first-time mother and poet. Like most new moms, it took Caroline time to adjust to her new parental role; however, she quickly discovered that writing helped her along the way.
One night, as Caroline found herself woken up for what seemed like the hundredth time, she observed her husband snoring peacefully beside her.
In the midst of her exhaustion, she decided to pen a poem. Later, when the new mom posted the poem, called ‘Daddy’s Asleep’, to her Facebook page, it immediately went viralâ and once you read it for yourself, it’s easy to understand why!
After the poem went viral, Caroline’s husband received criticism from many commenters; however, the new mom would like to note that the two of them had made a deal prior to the baby coming home that because Caroline was on maternity leave, she would be dealing with the night feedings. “That said, tiredness will still cause you a lot of passive aggressive feelings in the early hours at night,” she told Bored Panda.
So, without further ado, read Caroline’s masterpiece below!
Daddy’s Asleep
by Caroline Olling Anderson
I love your daddy, I really do,
After all, without daddy, I wouldnât have you.
But from midnight till sunrise, itâs just you and I.
And as each hour passes, Iâm not gonna lie:
Mommyâs love slowly fades, becomes angry and weak,
Because no matter what, your dad is f*cking asleep!
It all starts out lovely. We kiss each other goodnight.
We look lovingly down at you dear, such a beautiful sight.
An hour later, mommy wakes with a start.
Youâre twisting and turning, youâre starting to fart.
Youâre gesturing for food. Mommy is there
with a bottle or breast
Daddy is snoring away, the way he knows best.
Mommy burps you, and holds you and rocks you with care.
You spew foul smelling yogurt on mommyâs freshly washed hair.
As mommy changes her shirt, and mops vomit off the floor.
Your daddy farts, rolls over, and continues to snore.
Mommyâs maternal alarm goes off, itâs not even three!
Youâre stirring again, youâre hungry and staring at me!
âI think she is hungryâ your daddy offers, pulls duvet over his head,
Mommy sends him a death stare and rolls out of bed.
Mommy comes back, tired and drained and what is this I see?
Your daddy has taken over my side, doesnât give a f*ck about me!
Mommy kicks him and pushes him angrily away.
âWhatâs up love?â He moans in a lovingly way.
Your daddy has no clue he is under attack.
He wraps his arms around me and kisses my back.
And just as my love for daddy is back on the rise,
You start to coo in your crib and open your eyes.
And daddy gently nudges me to attend to your need.
I give him the finger as I prepare for a feed.
But as the sun starts rising, the slate is wiped clear.
Iâm back to full love for your daddy and for you my dear.
I forget that daddy sleeps while you cry and you poo.
Itâs back to kissing and hugging and doting on you.
Soon youâll grow up and be daddyâs little girl.
Youâll not remember me cleaning up sh*t and vomit hurl.
Whilst you sit on his lap and he sings you a song,
Youâll love him and think daddy could do nothing wrong.
But my sweet love, here is a poem for you to keep,
So you know that all those long nights, dad was f*cking asleep.
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