By Angie Fenton
I often joked that I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since late May 2015 when I learned I was pregnant. But sometime this summer, as I woke up for the umpteenth time in the middle of the night with my toddler’s feet in my face and her elbows in my ribs, I realized this was no laughing matter and I was tired of being tired.
My bed was so worn it was genuinely concave, and the constant exhaustion was starting to affect me and my on-the-job production. I researched the effects of sleep deprivation and was genuinely horrified about the seriousness of this not-so-uncommon epidemic.
According to Johns Hopkins, those of us who lack sleep are more likely to gain weight, age our brains prematurely, develop heart disease, cause car crashes… The list goes on and on — and it incited a newfound determination to do whatever I could to catch more ZZZs and ensure my daughter did, too.
The first move was obvious: It was time to get a new bed for the bedroom I share with my husband (except when he’d been relegated to the couch because said toddler was in his place). And, we decided, it was also an opportunity to transition our soon-to-be 4-year-old from her first bed into something more substantial and make bedtime something we all looked forward to.
On a sunny Saturday, the three of us ventured to Schmitt Furniture and – with the help of an incredibly knowledgeable gentleman who worked there – quickly found exactly what we needed: An adjustable split king-size bed for Mom and Dad (which we could control individually), and a bunk bed with safety features for Olive, which came equipped with stairs — as opposed to a ladder — and built-in shelves under each step as well as beneath her bottom bunk.
The Schmitt Furniture duo that delivered and set up the beds were courteous, kind (they didn’t blink an eye at the incessant questions my kid kept asking) and true professionals. That night, Olive quickly took to her “big girl bed,” and the hubby and I found ourselves snoozing with ease. My only regret: Why in the world didn’t we do this sooner???
I also consulted with friends and a couple of experts, all of whom advised setting and sticking to individualized bedtime routines, utilizing white noise apps if necessary, practicing meditation and “unpacking” the day’s stressors and tomorrow’s worries whether mentally or by writing them down.
While each night isn’t perfect – Olive is currently asleep in my bed right now but that’s because she was feeling a bit clingy today wanted to “cuddle with Mommy,” which I allow as a treat (to us both, mind you) but it’s no longer the norm. Found: More ZZZs.
Schmitt Furniture is located at 101 E. Main St. on the Furniture Corner of State and Main in downtown New Albany.
