Sleep Deprivation

Who would have thought that with a new born in the house that it would be the 3 year old and 18 month old keeping me up at nights!  The new born actually sleeps quite well.  People quite often ask me either how I’m sleeping or how the baby is sleeping, the only ones who are not surprised when I tell them that it is the older children keeping me awake are the experienced moms.

Today during play group, I was chatting with another mom about sleep deprivation.  She said that her daughter is 8 years old and she is just now starting to recover from sleep deprivation.  She had mentioned that it affected every aspect of her life, she was constantly bumping into things, forgetting things and really just had trouble functioning.  Sleep deprivation affects different people in different ways and to different extremes.  I know of another mom who finds it unbearable to get less than 6 consecutive hours of sleep.  I think the newborn stage of 3 hour feedings will haunt her for years to come.

My work and this website suffer because of my sleep deprivation, which can be very frustrating.  Like for example, throughout the day I get several ideas for topics that I want to write about but when I actually get the time to sit down and write – all my ideas vanish.  I guess I should carry a notepad with me all day – however I can’t really see that being very successful either.

I’d say for me the biggest frustration with sleep deprivation is being unable to communication with adults.  I find I have difficulties starting and carrying on a conversation with another adult.  I always thought that when other mom’s used to make comments about how they have to remember that they are in adult conversations, that they were referring to their tone of voice and not using ‘baby talk’.  For me it’s just trying to find the right words so that what I’m saying actually makes sense and what’s coming out is actually what I’m trying to say.  Do any of my recent articles make any sense?!

Sleep deprivation is difficult to deal with.  I know that the only reason I can function at all is from the graces that God provides.  When I don’t lean on Him for support during these tough days, the days become unbearable.  Everything is a battle, even my interactions with the children!  He is the only reason I get through and can handle and manage every day.

I guess all will come in it’s own time & way!  This is just another stage of life that will all to soon change to a different stage.

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