Sleep When They Sleep
This advice is given to every new mom when she leaves the hospital and almost none of us listen. We’re too worried…about literally everything…to settle down to sleep. We push ourselves until we pass out from exhaustion.
The teen years are the time to revisit this advice. You’re calmer. You know their needs by heart.
And They Nap
They nap for real. Not baby naps, these teenagers can nap like it’s nobody’s business.
Not Advocating for the Nap
I’m not encouraging the nap because Michael doesn’t sleep at night when he naps, but if I can’t prevent him from falling asleep, I lay down on the other couch and I catch some shut-eye. Especially necessary since I know I’ll be up at night.
Note
I may or may not have snuck a few winks while these two were watching a TV show in my bed. Wink
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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