Lessons in Special Parenting: Sleep

I know that I’ve touched on this issue before, because as you know, I’ve struggled with sleep since my first pregnancy. To be frank, I’ve almost always struggled with sleep, and it’s some kind of cruel joke that I’m one of those people who only truly functions on 8 hours, as opposed to 6 or 7. Having babies and a child who’s disability includes a sleep disorder has always felt like a special kind of hell. Thing is, you just can’t do this job if you are sleep deprived for months and months.

This was Amelia, most of the time, as a baby.

Now that we’ve more or less solved Zoe’s sleep issues, last night’s lesson came from Amelia, who has been a champion sleeper since she was one month old. She did not want to go to bed and I had to work, so her dad implemented the “sleep in our bed” process, what we call “napping”. I’m never happy when the kids sleep in our bed, unless they are sick or had a nightmare, because I think it sets a bad precedence. As I went up to my office, she was not in our bed, but hanging out in her room.  When that happens, the only solution to get her to bed is the  nighttime routine…reading a book or two and saying prayers.

It’s an easy, simple routine, but I don’t always do it.  Some nights I have work, or chores, or I’m simply too pooped, and those are the nights I’m not sick with a sinus headache or serious cramps. I admit, it’s wrong. I should do it every night, and and do it for Zoe.  (I’ve only once successfully read to both girls at the same time, so that’s not going to happen.)

I noticed last night, though, that she even though she was wide awake pre-routine, the next time I walked by her room she was out cold.  Routines do work.  Why am I so resistant? It makes the night smoother, but a real issue is that dinner is not always at the same time, which starts from a post-work domino effect. Keep in mind that Chris and I are both working from home (for now) and work ends at 4:15 for me and 5 for him.  There is NO reason dinner should be on the table at 7:30 or 8, but it is.  With the new restrictions, dinner takes a lot longer to make (and figure out). Some solutions we’re working on:

• Finding a casein-free cookbook/recipes NOW.  The “make dinner” difficulties are stressful to the point where neither Chris or I want to think about dinner.
• Spend some real time researching what the kids can eat and stock the fridge. The difficulties spread to snack time, which Amelia needs before homework time.  Fruits & veggies are great, but I need stuff that lasts more than a few days.
• Create a 2-parent tag team schedule starting next week (I’m booked every evening). My husband actually came up with a routine a few minutes ago.

I’ll have to check back in after I see how next week goes.  Good luck to me!