When I say that I’m tired, it’s not breaking news because that’s a universal side effect of being a special needs parent. This week in general has seen me totally exhausted and drained of anything even resembling energy or life.
I haven’t been sleeping too well lately and that in combination with my life in general isn’t a good mixture.
When I’m tired, I find myself in a darker emotional place. I’m more likely to be focused on the past and not thinking about the present or looking towards the future. It’s tough to get out of this state of existence when sleep has been placed on the endangered species list, at least in my life.
I know so many of you out there can relate to this because sleep can often feel like it’s simply extinct in the lives of Autism parents.
Today found me not doing so well for a number of reasons.
I’m going through a divorce that I didn’t want, raising three absolutely amazing yet challenging kids alone and living life in a constant, never ending state of sleep deprivation. I’d be less than truthful if I said that it didn’t get to me after awhile because it has.
This afternoon I decided that I just didn’t care about the house or getting caught up on some of the backlog of work I have to do. I was so tired I could barely function and the thought of the boys coming home from school, with me in this state of being, was quite unpleasant.
I basically said fuck it and decided to give in to the sleep that was overcoming me.
After a two hour long, uninterrupted nap, I awoke feeling like a different person. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the Energizer Bunny but I’m in a much better emotional place and that’s a huge positive.
By giving my body what it needed, I ended up doing myself and my kids an enormous favor.
I know first hand how sneaking in a nap just isn’t always possible but I would ask that if you find yourself in a situation where you can close your eyes, even for a few minutes, the positive impact on your body and mind is well worth it. ☺
We have to remember that we can’t take care of our kids if we don’t take care of ourselves first.. Trust me, I’m not pointing any fingers because I’m embarrassingly guilty of this myself… ☺
