Wake Up Calls
A week ago, I fell asleep on the living room couch at about 7:30 pm. You might think that makes sense, considering I work at home full time, teach part time, and have children and animals. However, while I do go to sleep early many nights, falling asleep at that time of the night is akin to napping -- something I really can't do. Ever. Unless I have just given birth. Clearly, I have not done that since 2008.
The week had not been that full, nor had that day, and I hadn't over caffeinated myself (too much caffeine drives me down, not up). What was the problem then, you ask? After much thinking, I pinpointed the problem: my sugar intake, most likely simple and refined sugars.
That is my friend, Glucose, above. Isn't it lovely?
I happen to be a sweet fiend. I like most (well-made and tasty) sugary treats, and I absolutely love ice cream. With all the Easter candy we have floating around here, I have been catching myself dipping into the pot. Several times a day. Then, at the end of the day, some ice cream sounds nice, too. I am pretty certain I'd been ingesting too much sugar for too many days. I was practically comatose as I pulled myself off of that couch, and the feeling shook me up and woke me up. Glucose, my friend, you are out!
So, this week I have tried my best to limit my intake of sugar. I declined a bit of Russian pastry that Tim offered, and I had only a small bite of Melina's chocolate ice cream. Yesterday, I had a peppermint patty. Today I have had zero sugary treats. I plan on trying to make it all the way through the day without one.
***
I was putting Melina down for a nap today, when I heard the front door open and shut. First off, I figured that Aaron had gone outside. Not a problem, but if he is going to be in the front yard by himself, I prefer to be downstairs. Playing in the backyard, with the dog, when I am upstairs is fine. Then, I heard the dog frantically barking.
I excused myself from reading to Melina to go investigate. As I was opening the door, there was a knock. On our porch was a very large man. Someone I knew, but Aaron did not. Aaron was in the front yard, by the tree.
I spoke to the man and then called to Aaron. I brought him inside and we had the following conversation:
This poor kid was probably wondering why I was a little perturbed. I would have been more perturbed if I didn't know the man on the porch. I explained, gently to the little red head that there are people out there that can be mean. I reminded him of a self-defense class that he attended, where they learned what to do about strangers. I informed him that if a person arrives that he doesn't know, he should come in and find me -- right away! I didn't want to scare the kid, but sheesh!
To the man's credit, he did knock on the door because he figured I wouldn't want my child out there with someone he didn't know. Thank goodness it was him instead of someone else!
The week had not been that full, nor had that day, and I hadn't over caffeinated myself (too much caffeine drives me down, not up). What was the problem then, you ask? After much thinking, I pinpointed the problem: my sugar intake, most likely simple and refined sugars.
That is my friend, Glucose, above. Isn't it lovely?
I happen to be a sweet fiend. I like most (well-made and tasty) sugary treats, and I absolutely love ice cream. With all the Easter candy we have floating around here, I have been catching myself dipping into the pot. Several times a day. Then, at the end of the day, some ice cream sounds nice, too. I am pretty certain I'd been ingesting too much sugar for too many days. I was practically comatose as I pulled myself off of that couch, and the feeling shook me up and woke me up. Glucose, my friend, you are out!
So, this week I have tried my best to limit my intake of sugar. I declined a bit of Russian pastry that Tim offered, and I had only a small bite of Melina's chocolate ice cream. Yesterday, I had a peppermint patty. Today I have had zero sugary treats. I plan on trying to make it all the way through the day without one.
***
I was putting Melina down for a nap today, when I heard the front door open and shut. First off, I figured that Aaron had gone outside. Not a problem, but if he is going to be in the front yard by himself, I prefer to be downstairs. Playing in the backyard, with the dog, when I am upstairs is fine. Then, I heard the dog frantically barking.
I excused myself from reading to Melina to go investigate. As I was opening the door, there was a knock. On our porch was a very large man. Someone I knew, but Aaron did not. Aaron was in the front yard, by the tree.
I spoke to the man and then called to Aaron. I brought him inside and we had the following conversation:
Me: Do you know that man?
Aaron: No.
Me: Should you be outside with a man you don't know?
Aaron: No.
Me: Should you be in the front yard by yourself if I am not downstairs?
Aaron: No.
Me: Did you go outside before the man arrived?
Aaron: Yes.
Me: If a man you don't know arrives when you are outside by yourself, what should you do?
Aaron: I don't know.
This poor kid was probably wondering why I was a little perturbed. I would have been more perturbed if I didn't know the man on the porch. I explained, gently to the little red head that there are people out there that can be mean. I reminded him of a self-defense class that he attended, where they learned what to do about strangers. I informed him that if a person arrives that he doesn't know, he should come in and find me -- right away! I didn't want to scare the kid, but sheesh!
To the man's credit, he did knock on the door because he figured I wouldn't want my child out there with someone he didn't know. Thank goodness it was him instead of someone else!
Comments
Occasionally there are perks to the peanut allergy thing - all my favorite sweets and nut/peanut butter treats which are never in our house. The rest is largely easy for me to ignore. :-)