Sleep!

Have you ever heard some teenager glibly state: "Sleep is not all it's cracked up to be"? He never had to dive into bed at 9:00 p.m. in order to cherish 2-4 hours of uninterrupted sleep before being woken to the sound of a crying baby ready to nurse, needing a diaper change, or spitting up all over the crib sheets. I remember these scenes years ago while raising my three children but now, at 58, the sleep deprivation seems to take a greater toll. On mornings when Rebecca and I have experienced at least one "chunk" of four hours of unbroken sleep we smile and say, "It was a good night." On the other end of the spectrum, there are mornings I wearily take out the dog, sit on the front step, and try to remember how it felt to feel rested and have energy to accomplish a list of "to-dos". I recently read that when we get less sleep (even one hour less) than we need each night, we develop a "sleep debt." Wow-am I in debt! The article said that if the sleep debt becomes too great, it can lead to problem sleepiness-sleepiness that occurs when you should be awake and alert, that interferes with daily routine and activities, and reduces your ability to function. Ok, that explains why I let out the dog before I remember to shut off the house alarm sending me into a panic as I attempt to quiet the blaring siren or why I bake a coffee cake forgetting to add the baking powder or why I fall asleep watching the Today Show! Yet, having said all of this, I wouldn't exchange a day of being here with my grandson for a full night's sleep! So maybe "Sleep isn't REALLY all it's cracked up to be!"