(30 Days is a free writing exercise in which a quote is chosen and written about. Please participate by sharing your comments on the quote. The idea is that this is an exercise to get our intuitive minds to open rather than writing polished pieces)
If people were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters.
~Author unknown, attributed to Jim Davis
I just read this quote and it sings my pain today. Don't get me
wrong, I am a true blooded morning person. I love watching the sunrise
and getting a headstart on the day. Past roommates and old friends
love sharing how back in the day I would bake cookies, cut paper
(loudly apparently), or try and have a coherent conversation with them
early in the morning. I guess, very EARLY. That was all before getting up early
ceased to be a choice and became a mandatory requirement.
You see,
I now officially believe in Karma. I have two children who get up in
the sub 5:00am category. This should not be allowed. And even the
truest morning person doesn't "pop"when the clock says
four-somethingarrutherinthemorning. No joke, I now have to peel myself
out of bed like my daughter's favorite fruit roll up treat. The
process is a slow, sticky extraction and as soon as I leave the safe
haven of the bed, I twist all up and get all tripped up on myself just
like the shriveled fruit snack. Let's just say it's rough.
My husband, the once upon a time non-morning person has somehow made the shift more gracefully than I have and enjoys taking pictures of himself next to the clock with the children documenting that day's waking time. When we were working on our New Year's Resolutions, We consulted Body and Soul's 5 week Challenge . Intrigued, we almost ran to their website and signed up. That is, until we read week 4 which involved getting 8 hours of sleep a night. We knew we had failed before we even started. But the upshot is that we designed our own 2009 Self-care plan for sleep deprived parents. It is going well and we only have to aim for a decent night's sleep three times a week.
What is important, though, is self-care. And if that is a good night's
sleep, a walk around the block, time with friends, or curling up with a
good book, then that is what is important to prioritize. This is what
keeps us well and healthy. For us, we have decided that sleep is
somewhat of a lost cause for these early parenting years and have
decided to take our blindingly early mornings to the gym by switching
off going in the mornings each week.
If you are interested in a modified 2009 Self Care Plan for Well
Intentioned, but Busy People and Sleep Deprived Parents, feel free to
email me at katie(at)katiewestlifedesign(dot)com and I will send you
ours. Or think about what is one way you can do something good for you
that is realistic for you in your life and that will make you feel good?
Peace, be well, and have a good night's .....well, you know what I mean.
