Dayton Diary: Don't wake the baby

My first professional position after receiving my graduate degree was as a live-in residence hall director in Founders Hall in 1982. My wife, Terry, and I talked about starting a family. She asked, “What will we do when our baby can’t get to sleep because of the noise?” I said, “Don’t worry. It won’t be a problem.” But I knew it might.

 We were blessed with a son, Michael, in May 1983. The residence hall was very quiet until students returned in the fall. During the first night of new student orientation, the triple room above our apartment decided to throw a party with 4-foot-high speakers. My wife and I immediately woke up. She gave me that “look.” I told her that they would probably be quiet in a couple of hours. Our 3-month-old started to cry, and I got another “look.”

I got Michael out of bed and walked upstairs to the triple room. I knocked on the door. One of the residents opened the door, looked at me and said, “Can I help you?” I said, “Yes. My wife and I live right below your room, and you woke up our son. I will need you to get him back to sleep.”

“You woke up our son. I will need you to get him back to sleep.”

I then attempted to hand him the baby. He looked at me quizzically and then turned around and yelled, “Turn off the stereo!” He then apologized and said it would not happen again. I said “thank you,” walked downstairs and put Michael back in his crib.

The next day, the three residents came to our apartment with diapers and toys (for a 5- or 6-year-old). Terry was touched and thanked them. They apologized and offered to be babysitters. We did not take them up on that offer, but there were no more noise problems. 

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A version of this article appears in print in the Spring 2025 University of Dayton Magazine, Page 67. EXPLORE THE ISSUE — MORE ONLINE