Big three for today

Yes, as a matter of fact, it is 3am as I type this. Inspiration and allergies have lead me to type.

First, because I know he reads this, I want to thank my bro NW for visiting this weekend. It was really great that he made it possible to come. Ren had a great time. We had a great time. Thanks.

Second, I just read a very inspiring and disarming article about homeschooling in Mothering Magazine. Homeschooling frightens me. Several of my friends do it and they all seem "normal". I am sure that I fear the commitment and improved relationship with one's children that homeschooling probably creates. As the author of the article, Patricia Zaballos, describes "Love watching them [your children] become who they were born to be." She also quotes David Guterman when he says, homeschooling "is the fabric of your own life you are deciding about, not just your child's education."

Third, and somewhat most importantly because it is 3am, I have been reading about the importance of sleep. Ironically, in my mind, I ran across two separate articles about how sleep is the key to good health, improves learning and memory, and that most Americans (and probably those in most developed countries) really suck at it. Sleep is a quantity and quality issue. Perhaps it is because I have a baby (11 months today!) who sleeps differently than I -- and who is sleeping soundly at this moment.

There are several sleep stages - light sleep, deep/restorative sleep, and REM sleep. Each is important and a part of a cycle that adults and infants go through each 60 to 90 minutes each night. Light sleep is the doorway. Deep sleep restores the body. REM sleep engages the mind. Newborns spend a lot of their sleeping time in REM sleep - the brain is constantly making connections as they absorb the new world. As we get older, we cycle through two stages of light sleep then in and out of REM.

When whoever told us (as adults) to get 8 hours of sleep - they were right! They still are! Happily included would be a 90 minute nap (one entire sleep cycle) during the day. The long stint at night is best. Sleep like a baby...Get your zzzz's...take a nap. *Yawn* I think I'll go try again.