A Body at Rest

This may, very realistically, cause drama.

Like"links-on-a-message-board-plotting-your-death" kind of drama.

And while there's no such thing as bad press (supposedly), I am kind of sensitive and thinner skinned about bad things written about me.

That being said...

So, you know how I've said before that Hoover has problems settling down at night? (I have. Go look for it.) Well, Mini Me started following suit. (Larry Potter, who has slept through the night since he was 3 days old, is a champion sleeper. He may have to list it on his resume some day.)

Hoover has been having some other issues as well, mostly brought on by first grade and curses from my husband's parents.

So I decided to try something drastic. And since the school frowns on my "sleep-a-way" school campaign, I decided to try something my friend Jamie suggested.

Three days later (thanks, Amazon Prime), a bottle of melatonin arrived at my doorstep.

And the angels sang.

Blessed nectar of the gods, I bow to you.

I did a lot of research on melatonin, plus talked to some medical professionals. It's a natural substance your body makes to help ease you into a sleep, but with all the technological advances these days, the artificial light from things like TVs, computers, cell phones, etc. can really mess up your balance. (In a wikipedia nutshell.)

Not that my son spends a lot of time in front of the TV or anything. (Okay, he likes the Wii, but I do try and limit him. He loves to run around outside, too. And start small fires.)

Disgruntled Husband was not on board with my purchase.

But I wanted to try it. So that night, I gave Hoover one dropper-full of melatonin. (I checked all the dosages...we coo'.) And because MM was there too, I gave her about 2 drops worth, just so she would feel like she was included.

Now, before the melatonin, bed time was something I've seen on Supernanny. Up and down, up and down. We'd put Hoover and MM to bed at 8, and be threatening them until 9:45. It wasn't fun. And in the mornings, Hoover was a complete bear to get out of bed. And then he'd be a big bear for my friend, his teacher because he was so tired.

Twenty minutes after his dropper-full of melatonin, he was fast asleep in his bed. MM was, too.

The next morning, he woke up with DH's alarm.

And the angels sang again.

His teacher said there was no more meltdowns and crying (though other areas of school are still challenging for him, for sure, it's just better without the tiredness).

When it came time for his second dose, DH was all about the melatonin.

I know you can't expect a drug or natural substance to fix your kid. Medication and other aids are to be used with great caution. The nay-sayers that will comment on this are all entitled to their opinion. But sleep was a source of stress for all of us, and it's been solved.

And I'll have a dropper-full to that!