I have really enjoyed the discussions of night-time parenting, especially
Leslie's recent one.  I may be in the minority, but as long as my children
aren't sick (and therefore waking up with a very high fever or vomiting) I
have always *enjoyed* those quiet minutes of being awake at night with a
baby or toddler, or even my now 4 year old.  I remember particularly with my
first child (now 15), when she was 3 and 4, and still waking at night to go
to the bathroom, or whatever, that she was always so busy during the day
that she was always on the run, playing with her friends, and having the
typical power struggles with me that go on with any child that age.  But at
night, she was warm and clean and sleepy and cuddly, and there were no other
distractions, and she was willing to be held and cuddled and to talk to me.
We had some of our best philosophical discussions in the middle of the
night.  Alexander, my youngest who is now 4, tends not to wake up in the
night anymore for any reason, so we don't have these special times as much
as I did with Miranda.  Alex sleeps with us, so he's right there, but he
began sleeping through at about 2.5-3.0.  There is much to be said for
night-waking and night-parenting, when all the rest of the household is
quiet.......

Kathy Dettwyler