So each year in I think, right around this time, Fall back - Daylight savings time is ending. A blissful extra hour of sleep. And then I awaken from my daydream of Autumns past to remember I've got 2 small kids. I'm about to enter HELL! From delightful musings of sleep I start running about the house in a full on panic. You'd think the house was on fire - but no. Its time to get wonderdad up to strategize how we will deal with the onslaught of screaming, overtiredness, not tired enough for bed and strange scary darkness at 4PM to get them sleeping again. So that, perchance, we may also sleep again. So, Dr. Austin, why do children react so horridly to time change? Well the answer is simple. Toddlers react horridly to ALL change! My 3 year old had a tantrum this morning simply because her sock was inside out - in the draw. It's what they do. Break the routine and suffer the consequences. Anything from stool witholding on vacation, to refusal to eat certain foods which were your go-to solutions. Anything a kid can control to get the upper hand, they will. That's their job. Now I could tell you all about disruption in circadian rhythms and the pulsatile inputs from the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The neuroscience is fascinating, trust me, but more to the point is my kid wont go to sleep, stay asleep, wont stay in bed, wants breakfast at 3 AM, wakes up cranky and the list goes on and on. And you know- jet lag feels yucky! That's what kids are experiencing, but without any context. The best I can tell you is you're not alone. Sometimes this time of year we try to re-frame it as a positive. For the child who can not yet tell time - now we can start getting her to bed an hour earlier because its dark outside. Of course, this wont work if she's memorized the order of the programs on the "Goodnight Show" and knows that Caillou (that horrible little whiny bitch) comes on before lights out. But, I'm always hopeful to find a way for an extra hour of sleep here or there. BTW - if your'e wondering- this plan never actually works. The next best thing is to stick to your routine. They may start waking you at the butt crack of dawn (4:45AM), but that is what my husband is for. (I don't think he knows it - so shhhhh, don't tell). Watch the naps! Kids can catch up on hours lost during nap time so now they're going to bed at 11P and still getting you up at the butt crack of dawn. This is when you start offering them money to go to sleep. My oldest nearly got a TV in her room during this period while I was pregnant. Because I would have done ANYTHING to sleep more that 4 hours a night. So watch it. A good negotiator vs a sleep deprived mommy is a recipe for a room full of As-Seen- On-TV crap, at best. But honestly, I'd have given her matches, roman candles, a blow torch, ANYTHING...to just sleep. Be ready for some extra whiny, tantrum-y behavior. Knowing what's coming and that it will eventually pass can help you cope - so can chocolate and wine- so stock up! Also, if you're truly at your wits end with a crabby kid and no sleep - I always think now is a nice time for an extended trip to Grandma and Grandpas. I suggest dropping them off at Halloween and picking them up at Thanksgiving. While I'm sure Daylight Savings was a super duper idea when Ole Ben Franklin dreamt it up, with the advent of the electric light it seems rather silly. Getting dark at 4:30PM limits the time a child can get outside and play. Less light means less Vitamin D. We know that's not good for growing bodies. While I think I read that this practice somehow saves energy, I already do that (we're buying a Prius !) And basically, I'd be up for slashing and burning a jungle if if gave me an extra hours sleep. Sorry nature lovers. So get your copy of "Go the F^&% to Sleep" and a bottle of wine, let them cry it out for awhile and snuggle by the fire for long winters night. Why? Because Dr. Austin Says So
Saving money is important, in fact, it is one of the most important things that you need to look out for. If you do not have any ideas about it, then that is just sad. People need to understand just how important saving money is. If you cannot save money, then you will have a hard time handling yourself in the future. Do think about what you want to save up for, that is the important thing in saving money.
Dr. Melanie Austin is an actual medical doctor not just a graduate of WebMD. She is the mother of 2 girls, 1 dog, 3 cats and at times, it seems, her husband. The blog is not meant as medical advice but as the musing of a medical professional on pertinent social topics.