Sleep Ponderings from Me

My oldest child is only 4 1/2; she goes to school 2 days a week; goes to ballet once a week; some months has swimming lessons 2 days a week; I work out one day a week (where I bring them). We don't have that much going on, but as the three get older my days are going to be full of dropping off, picking up, dropping off, picking up, waiting- school, ballet, soccer. Then, coming home: homework, dinner, baths, reading, and who knows what else. And of course I will still have their goal of 10-11 hours of sleep a night... so an 8pm bedtime. Talk about need to be efficient. I can't even imagine taking care of all the things that would need to get taken care of if I was working full time. You can see how bedtimes easily creep to a later and later time for some families- they just do not have enough time to get everything done. So, I challenge myself and you to make your child's bedtime (amount of sleep) a #1 priority, and adjust the rest of your life accordingly. Maybe your child doesn't play every sport or isn't involved in every extracurricular activity. Maybe you pay the extra $10 to do vons.com (honestly not a plug for them), so that you can keep errands at bay. Choices will have to be made so that everyone can have the chance to give their best by being well-rested.