You're Going To Love Me For This

I blog for all the right reasons (whatever those are)....usually. Today, however, I blog as a freebie whore.

Any blogger worth her salt gets weird stuff in her emailbox occasionally, including suggestions to "review" or write about some completely irrelevant product.

You see, companies - big and small - recognize the power, reach and influence of the social media platform...and presume "mommy bloggers" are frothing at the mouth to talk about how completely awesome that new laundry detergent is...and all you have to do is send her said laundry detergent for free (or even - wow - a half-price coupon for it). In turn, she presents her readership to them on a plate.

Now, some people apparently make big money doing this, and I salute them. In other news, I have yet to meet "some people."

But you know what? Today, I don't even care. Today, I get to reap the benefits of this blog with a product much more exciting than laundry detergent. I shamelessly CAMPAIGNED for this freebie because I wanted it so badly. And, dear readers, not only did Sensory Goods willingly agree to help me "sell out," but they upped the ante and offered to give one of you an amazing freebie too.

Behold! I give you a custom weighted blanket. These babies are not cheap. I've been wanting to try one on the kids for years, but never wanted to cough up the money on something that could be a big bust. (And make it myself? That's funny. Have we met?) Also, I was overwhelmed. What weight? What size? What color? Where's my coffee?

Sensory Goods gets us....they're one of us. This company, founded by a family with two children on the autism spectrum, has a mission to "meet autistic and sensory integration needs while meeting the financial need of those caring for people affected by these developmental disorders." Let's say it together: Aw. 

Sometimes I Can't Sleep

Sometimes I can't sleep.

I can't even blame it on the kids this time. It's not that I'm not tired; I'm beyond exhausted. I haven't slept properly consecutively since around 2000, despite my habit of leaping into the bed like a gold-medal gymnast by 8 pm.

When I do sleep, nothing - and I mean NOTHING - can wake me. I have slept through tornado watches; mysterious fire alarm battery chirps (come on, it happen to everyone); and malfunctioning burglar alarms. It's disconcerting actually. Lest you think I'm well rested, bear in mind that this only occurs in spurts...and I'm convinced I need many more hours of sleep than the average person. (Please do remember that there's nothing "average" about my whac-a-mole life!)

But nights like this one are different. A few hours ago, I battled to keep my eyes open just to make it through the afternoon, and now they won't close.

Instead, the Doppler Radar inside my brain - unfettered by mundane activities like making lunches and shuttling carpools - blips and twirls. I fret that my sweet baby girl sprawled out in bed next to me is almost my size - practically a third adult in the bed (yes, my bed because at least I know she's safe). I wonder if her nightly visits will ever cease...and whether she'll ever sleep under any roof but my own.