tuesday tip - sleep

how fitting that sleep would be the topic i would choose for new year's day!  are you dragging today? i usually don't even stay up until midnight and still end up being on the tired side.  now for the tip...

take sleep seriouslyi am frequently asked (at least once a week) - "how do you do it?"  my first answer is always, "my kids are good sleepers."  (well, maybe it is my second answer after - you just do what you have to do.)  we have been blessed by having great sleepers - all four!  they have all dropped naps earlier than most, but at least they now have each other to play with during 'nap time'.  i cannot stress enough how important sleep is to any type of function and peace in our household.  i am not of the "sleep when the baby sleeps" school of thought (why train yourself to sleep during the day when that isn't always a possibility), but occasional naps are good for your sanity.  i also don't wake a sleeping baby if i can help it.  believe me, if they are hungry, they will wake up and it is super difficult to break them of a wake every x hours schedule once you have trained them to sleep/wake that way. (now, of course, if your baby is not gaining weight or has other concerns - that is something totally different.  i am talking about an average, healthy baby.)

i seriously don't know how people do it when their kids don't sleep!  sleep is the number one ingredient for a happy day at our house, what is the number one need at your house to guaranty an easier day?  love.