(P) Sleep Deprivation

Autistic kids have a hard time sleeping. Our three year-old son is frequently awake multiple times a night. He cries out. He gets up. He moves to the floor. He hollers. He cries. He rarely sleeps anymore through a naptime - waking up earlier than he seems to need.

Perhaps as a parent you can relate.

We've coped, we tested, we've medicated (him, not us...although...). We use ear plugs. We move to the sofa. We pray. We go to bed early. We get up more often and earlier than we really want to. And we drink a lot of caffeine.

We also laugh. Gotta have a sense of humor to effectively parent an autistic child! For that matter, if you don't smile a lot parenting ANY child, you are probably in serious trouble. Anyway, in hopes you'll laugh and be encouraged, a little "Top Ten" list.

Paul Gilbert, a television producer and dad of two small children. He produced "Sleep Like A Baby: What Every Parent Needs to Know About Babies & Sleep," a video for new and expectant parents. Here's his take on sleep deprivation.

THE TOP TEN SIGNS THAT YOU'RE A SLEEP DEPRIVED PARENT

10) It's a good day when you remember to brush your teeth

9) You blame your spouse or partner for everything

8) The circles under your eyes have circles

7) You'll put up with your relatives' neuroses, as long as they'll baby-sit

6) You can barely navigate the stroller, much less the car

5) You now understand why your parents always looked so old

4) You hate anyone who says their baby sleeps through the night

3) There's no such thing as a "long enough" nap

2) If the phone rings after 8 PM, you think, "who in their right mind would call this late?"

AND THE NUMBER ONE SIGN THAT YOU'RE A SLEEP DEPRIVED PARENT

1) You would definitely rather sleep, than have sex

Entire article, including some good advice, is here.