"When I was a child I used to hate going to bed... Now I cherish every hour of sleep!"
I saw this posted up on Facebook earlier and I couldn't help but physically nod in agreement as I read it. Sleep... its something we all need in order to survive and keep our mental faculties intact. Unfortunately Munchkin doesn't realise that! She's never been a great sleeper from the start, often waking three or four times a night and ending up in bed beside me, as it would be the only way I could get one eye shut if not two. In the early days, while she was still a baby, I accepted that there would be some degree of sleep deprivation involved as with all babies... (you can spot a sleep deprived mother a mile off, with the telltale black bags, and I'm not talking Prada dahling!) Thats what babies do... they eat, poop, sleep and cry and repeat this cycle over and over. Usually though, sometime midway throughout their first year of life, they will eventually settle into a sleep pattern, waking less and ending up sleeping their 12-13 hours straight through to morning by about a year...
Unfortunately, with Munchkin, and with many other children I know on the spectrum, sleep deprivation is more common than sleep. For some reason, our kiddies need so much less sleep than other kids their age. I occasionally get lulled into a false sense of security when my pixie decides to toe the line and give me a night or two in a row, making me believe that perhaps the torture of the night time waking is actually ending.... But no! Bam, we're back at square one :( I do hold onto some hope though... Her older sister woke every night until she was over 4 so maybe, just maybe....
The effects of this broken sleep don't appear evident in Munchkin, who can happily run around, and laugh and smile etc as if she's had a 12 hour marathon kip. Nothing seems to knock her off kilter. She does her puzzles, plays with the toys, does her tablework without fuss and stays in relatively good form during her sessions in school and with tutors. So why is there a problem I hear you ask....
I guess the problem lies with me... I struggle to function to the best of my abilities when I'm tired. Standards slip when it comes to everything as I wouldn't necessarily have the energy to give things my best focus. Just the other day, after a 5am rising with madam, I had to go to work which I found very stressful as the child I work with was extremely frustrated with not being mobile, so took it out on my hands using her nails. I then had to go collect Munchkin from school and go to the local book shop to get some stationary and books that Yani needed for school. We went up to the top floor to buy the books and then came downstairs to look at the puzzles for madam. Being tired, I looked at a box and when I looked down... she was gone! Oh no, where is she... theres a door that opens out onto the street... panic.... I start shouting her name over and over hoping she's going to answer me. Next thing, a counter staff girl shouted over "I think she just went up in the lift"! Great!! I run up the stairs and find her on the upper level. I got angry, really angry... Not with her, but with myself for letting my guard down and letting her give me the slip! Even if I'm exhausted, I cannot let the guard down!
Time for action... I can no longer function as a law abiding, kind, happy, intellegent, useful member of society without my 8 hours a night. I have discovered the frightening "Sleep Deprived Driving" which means I can be often seen having a catnap at the side of the road when can drive no further... When I was younger, they used to joke that if sleeping was an Olympic Event, I'd bring the gold home for Ireland every time. I LOVED my sleep.I had it down to a fine art, and could sleep standing upright on the 75 bus to work every morning. Gawd, I miss those days! So whats my plan of action....
I have in my possession now, the holy scroll (well GMS prescription for Melatonin liquid) I have previously bought Melatonin over the internet and given it in small doses but that obviously didn't have the desired effect. The paediatrician gave me clear instructions and the dose she recommended is far greater that the amount I had been giving her. So fingers crossed everyone... If it does the job you will probably hear the squeals of delight coming from me in the morning :)
Watch this space.... but if you hear snoring, wake me at your own peril hehe...