Importance of Sleep for Adults raising the Little Humans...

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, about 40 million people in the United States suffer from chronic long-term sleep disorders each year and an additional 20 million people experience occasional sleep problems.

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey included a core question regarding perceived insufficient rest or sleep in 2008 (included since 1995 on the Health Related Quality of Life module) and an optional module of four questions on sleep behavior in 2009. Data from the 2009 BRFSS Sleep module were used to assess the prevalence of unhealthy/sleep behaviors by selected sociodemographic factors and geographic variations in 12 states. determined that, among 74,571 adult respondents in 12 states, 35.3% reported <7 hours of sleep during a typical 24-hour period, 48.0% reported snoring, 37.9% reported unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least once in the preceding month, and 4.7% reported nodding off or falling asleep while driving at least once in the preceding month. This is the first CDC surveillance report to include estimates of drowsy driving and unintentionally falling asleep during the day. 
The National Department of Transportation estimates drowsy driving to be responsible for 1,550 fatalities and 40,000 nonfatal injuries annually in the United States

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) introduced the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire in 2005 for participants 16 years of age and older. Adults who reported sleeping less than the recommended 7–9 hours per night were more likely to have difficulty performing many daily tasks.

Children can learn: Mommy Needs Her Rest but that would mean: Staying conscious that our children need their rest too. 

"Don't make your own sleep a priority" the messages sent to parents in our current kid-centric culture...

I think about how much we do that in our culture, what a ginormous message that is for moms. How we condition mothers to drain their own life force and call that "Good Loving Mommy." Then, when "Good Loving Mommy," ends up at the Doctors with a diagnosis, it gets even more insidious. The new notion of "You did this to yourself." Maybe, or maybe it begins with the wildly inappropriate concept of what it means to be a "Good Loving Mommy." The weird thing is, a lot of people buy into that and call it "A Mother's LOVE"
Of course a mother is going to get up to feed the baby at 2 am. Of course a mother is going to get up at 3 am when one of her children is sick. Of course, that is what many of us "Good Loving Mommies," DO and we do that very naturally, on instinct. Occasionally, yes. It's necessary. However, I wish people would STOP telling women to neglect themselves to be "Good Loving Mommy," and instead help them find a path that allows room for co-existence instead. 

Maybe the problem isn't that we need to "Wake up!" Maybe the problem is: We need to SLEEP WELL! 

From the CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 

Sleep Hygiene TipsThe promotion of good sleep habits and regular sleep is known as sleep hygiene. The following sleep hygiene tips can be used to improve sleep.

• Go to bed at the same time each night and rise at the same time each morning.
• Avoid large meals before bedtime.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime.
• Avoid nicotine.

Much Love,
Christina Marie

Expanded Consciousness 
​Taking what is so, and moving it where you want it to go....