Dear Jaclyn and Heidi,
Hubby Tom and I are loving life on the road but it’s fair to say our sleep patterns are a little bit out of kilter … and it’s driving me mad! Back in our working lives, Tom was always 100 miles per hour doing this or that well into the evening and then he would have a glass of whisky and would often fall asleep in his chair by about 10pm. Now, he’s about two miles per hour, doesn’t do very much at all, and always falls asleep in his chair by about 7pm. Worst of all, when I begin to get tired and wake him after an hour or two to suggest we get to bed, he gets this annoying new lease on life and bursts into animated conversation as if he hasn’t been snoring for hours. Grrrrrrr! But I simply can’t persuade him to go to bed any earlier.
Toni
You are not alone, Toni. Overly sleepy spouses are a constant gripe for millions of Australians, on the road or not. It’s one of those things you have to talk about and work through. Everyone’s sleep patterns are different and they change as we get older and you just have to accept that Tom gets tired earlier than he used to … and there’s not much he can do about it! Try adjusting your schedules a little bit. Maybe you can pretend you’re tired really early and you can both go to bed before he nods off in his chair; try having some days that are slightly less ‘active’ so Tom can re-charge his batteries; maybe get heavier curtains so you sleep longer in the mornings. Failing that, while he’s snoozing, just take the chance to read a book, write an email, knit a scarf, or think happy thoughts.
Jaclyn
Jeepers, Toni. Leave poor old Tom alone! Newsflash, he’s getting older and the stimulation and excitement of life on the road is draining his energy levels quicker than ever. Here’s the good news … he doesn’t have to get up to go to work, he doesn’t have to chase the kids around, he doesn’t have to stress about anything … or at least he shouldn’t have to. For Goodness sake, you’re on a permanent holiday, Toni, so just relax, will you? You sound like the inspiration for a yet-to-me-made horror movie about the deranged wife who forces her exhausted partner to drink endless cups of strong coffee to artificially keep his eyes open! If you’re ‘loving life on the road’, let the poor old duffer you married fall asleep in his chair at 7pm if he wants to. For better or for worse, Toni … or, in this case, for lively or for dozy.
Heidi
