Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep....or Not

As children, we probably never thought much about sleep except for the fact that we didn’t want to do it.  In those growing and learning years, there were lots of things going on around us that we didn’t want to miss out on.  Sleep seemed like a colossal waste of time when there were so many potentially fun things to do when we were supposed to be sleeping.  Napping?  Who wants to do that?  I never did.  My parents were sure I should, but perhaps that was more about them having a break than me needing one.  I remember leaving my bedroom door open a crack to peek at the late night television shows my parents wouldn’t let me stay up to watch, and also doing the flashlight under the covers to read a book trick. 

I was a great sleeper for a long time.  I went to sleep easily, slept about eight hours, and woke up rested.  Now granted, I was never a cheerful morning person and began kick-starting my morning with coffee when I was in high school.  After I married, my husband learned to just hand me a cup in the morning and leave me alone for at least thirty minutes before engaging (he’s a cheerful morning person).  Getting used to trying to sleep in the same bed with another person was a whole adventure, but once I got used to sharing air and covers and space, I still managed to sleep well. 

Then kids entered the picture.  Once tiny humans come on the scene, most moms probably sleep with one ear in listen mode at all times.  I became a much lighter sleeper and was on alert for all the sounds a house makes at night (internal alarms to protect the offspring) as well as waiting for said infant to wake up to eat or need comfort.  This new “light sleep” also made me aware that the house could blow up around my husband and he would not wake, let alone rescue the baby.  For a lot of years Keith traveled for work during the week so I single parented and that didn’t help my sleep much since I was solely responsible for keeping watch over kids, house, property, and pets.  No wonder parents are tired a lot! 

Over the years when Keith worked in medical sales, I fluctuated between sleeping alone during the week and having my husband home on the weekends.  When he was gone, I created some habits that were my preferred way of sleeping that didn’t necessarily survive on the weekends.  The room was my optimal temperature, the covers were neatly tucked in around me, I was not breathing someone else’s used air.  Don’t judge – I came to like sleeping by myself! 

Now in my present state of empty-nester, past the peak and rolling quickly downhill stage of life, sleep has become a whole new circus.  Anyone relate? There’s the I’m cold and then I’m hot thing – covers on, covers off, flip the pillow to the cool side.  My brain has a very hard time shutting down to go to sleep, or if I do, I wake up at ungodly hours and the brain swirl starts again.  Parts of my body complain if I stay in one place too long.  Keith gets up at 4:00am for an early work shift, so I always wake up with him and often struggle to go back to sleep.  I don’t like depending on any kind of substance to be able to sleep so I just don’t partake.  I tried a few natural things that sometimes help and sometimes don’t.  Lately I’ve started having a late night quiet time of soft music or meditation which does seem to help with being able to go to sleep.  More than ever I need my strong, hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning.

All the medical types agree that seven to eight hours of sleep is best.  Our bodies and minds need that break to rest and renew.  May you all be blessed with amazing rest and rejuvenation.  I’ll pray for that for you when I’m awake at 4:00.