ASHLEY’S CORNER Up Late, Up Early, All In: Missing That Fleeting Sleep Window
As a mother of six, I had so many years of disrupted sleep, nursing each of them. But I was always a good sleeper, even when my sleep was disrupted. I would hear the babies, wake up, feed them, and then go right back to sleep. Now, as the Festival of Sleep Day rolls around on Jan. 3, a day set aside for all of us to catch up on sleep, I have to admit: I need some. Even though the kids are mostly sleeping through the night and nobody is waking me up anymore, I am not sleeping well enough. Here’s the thing: The kids used to all go to bed at 7:30 p.m. After that, Toph and I would have a couple of hours to spend together, talking or watching a show, before I went to bed at 9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m. That was ideal. But now, the kids are getting older and they’re not all in bed until 9 or 9:30 p.m. By that time, I’m tired and ready to chill. If I go to bed right then, at 9:30 p.m. I fall asleep and sleep great. I suspect that time period is this magical thing called a “sleep window,” a period when your body is ready for sleep. But Toph is a night owl, and he’s ready to stay up for a couple more hours. I often stay up, too, because I want to have some time together. But by that point in the day, I’m just too tired to carry on a conversation or watch
a show. Also, if I do stay up later, I miss that sleep window! Then, when I finally do go to bed, I lie there awake, thinking, “OMG, I should be sleeping! Why am I not sleeping? I should have gone to bed when I was tired!”
I’m trying to find a better balance. Sleep and exercise are both so important for my health. I feel so much better if I take a walk or practice yoga, and get some quiet time to myself, even just 10 minutes a day. I’m trying to fit it all in. Toph and I have always loved doing a morning walk together. Where did that time go? I guess we have to re-create it. Maybe we could do that again, one morning a week, when we drop the kids off at preschool and take a walk together before he starts his workday.
I don’t think I’ve found the perfect balance yet. But it’s definitely a work in progress.
Take a Break
JALAPEÑO POPPER SOUP
Ingredients
• 4 bacon slices, chopped into 1/2- inch pieces • 5–6 large jalapeño peppers, minced with stems and seeds removed • 1/2 small onion, chopped • 4 garlic cloves, minced • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 tsp cumin • 1 1/2 tsp salt • 1 lb gold potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces • 8 oz full-fat cream cheese • 1 cup shredded fresh cheddar cheese • 2 tbsp lemon juice
Directions
1. Place a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy, then remove to a plate. 2. Add jalapeños and onion to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. Add garlic to the pot and sauté for 1 minute. 4. Stir in chicken broth, cumin, salt, and potatoes, and simmer for 20 minutes. 5. Place cream cheese in a mixing bowl and add 1 ladle of hot broth before mixing. 6. Add cream cheese mixture to the pot and stir. 7. Remove from heat and add cheddar cheese and lemon juice, stirring until the cheese melts. 8. Pour into serving bowls, topping with bacon and more shredded cheese.
Solution on Page 4
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