Aaah, Sleep! by Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

Life C ach

Ahhhh Sleep

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., MFT, CLC

I’m just too tired to go to bed!

First, there’s plugging in the phone. Wait a minute. Where is my phone?

Then there’s checking the latest messages, emails, WhatsApps, etc.

And then not forgetting to set the alarm.

Of course followed by: changing, putting away the clothing, washing up, flossing, and brushing my teeth…

But then, getting a snack and a drink. Who can go to bed on an empty stomach? It’s probably been more than 15 minutes already since I last visited the kitchen.

Oy, and then brushing my teeth all over again!

And then still, finding my newspaper or the book I’m in the middle of.

Honestly, it’s just easier to stay up or just pass out. It saves so much effort and energy.

The problem is I’m tired and I would really like to climb into my bed! Except, that would demand this whole rigmarole.

What’s a body to do?!

We all face these challenges.

And if you have little kids, it’s even worse. Because when you finish your whole routine and finally hit the pillow, that’s when they start their midnight descent.

“Daddy, I can’t sleep.”

“Well, what a coincidence. It seems neither can I?!”

“Mommy, I had a nightmare”

“Did you say had one sweety, or are one?”

Yes, those little angels seem to get a second wind just when yours is running out.

So, your second nightly routine begins. Get them a snack, a bottle, their blanky, their bunny, their teddy, whatever it takes – and move on over. Within a short time, their

feet are lodged firmly under your stomach, their heads have found the center of your pillow, and they are snoring away happily.

It’s you who is having some difficulty finding a place for yourself! You twist, and turn, and contort, and finally, either fall away or decide to seek other accommodations. You may wander into their room and fold yourself uncomfortably into their Barbie or Paw Patrol bed – or sobered, return to your room, where you then push, and cajole, and somehow find a corner for yourself to call your own. With a deep breath, and a final decision that you must get some sleep, you slowly fade into la la land.

Those little angels seem to get a second wind just when yours is running out.

For some, this may be the end of the ordeal. Though, perhaps not blessed with a completely restful slumber, at least one that lasts till morning. Still for others, sleep may be interrupted, yet again, by the familiar sensation of floating in the deep blue sea. “Help! Who forgot to change this kid into a Pull-Up last night?”

Sleep is one of those things we take a stab at over and over again. Every night, we try to get it right. Some people are just lucky. They have that hit-the-pillow-and-I’mgood-to-go blessing, while others need to figure out what will relax them and help them sleep.

And then the joke is that in the morning the opposite happens. Some people need 20 snooze cycles and five cups of coffee to move, while others pop up and are immediately ready for their day.

And, in the middle of it all, there are those people who would have no trouble sleeping if they weren’t in the same room as the world’s loudest snoring machine. These people are not too tired to change for bed; they are too traumatized to head there.

For the exhausted person who dreads the nightly bedtime routine, I can only say that I completely empathize.

But, for those with more complex situations here’s some suggestion:

Put your kid in your bed with your noisy mate.

Stuff your own ears with parts of bunny or teddy.

Put two bottles next to your bed – one to give your kid, if you have one. And the other to hit yourself over your head with, so you can finally sleep.

And if none of this helps, the good news is, you always get another chance to figure something out again tomorrow night!

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-7052004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com.