When my daughter and I relocated back to my home state, I had gone to make enquiry at one of the best schools in town. Although the school is quite a distance from my home, I had resolved to be using the school bus.
Imagine my shock when I was asked by the head teacher if my baby is going to be a boarder. I was confused and had to inform her again that she's just four years old, so which one is boarding school for a baby??
She smiled and responded "even children younger than her get enrolled with us as boarders." The way I shouted and exclaimed "ha!" because why? why should a baby be isolated from parental care as such tender age?
Like the head teacher knew what was going through my mind, she smiled and said to me, "some parents get really busy schedules and other times, the children might be from broken homes and the parents might have moved on with their lives."
That did not really sit well with me because for me, I'd rather drop my child off with a relative than to ship her off to a boarding school at such tender age.
I do understand that there comes a time in our life when we have to make the ultimate sacrifice in other to move on to the next level. For me that sacrifice is my sleep and I am currently suffering the consequences.
Initially I use to get at least 8hours of sleep in every 24hours. But as I take up more income stream to meet up with the high standard of living, I find myself stealing from my sleep time. It's s so bad that I currently have just 4 hours of sleep left. So recently, my sister asked me if I could take up a writing gig as a ghost writer and I told her yes.
She was like are you sure you can do it? what time do you have? because I currently work two jobs and then there is hive making it the third. She sees that I am struggling and she needed to be sure I could handle a fourth so I told her not to worry I got it all under control and then she asked again, "How?".
I kept quiet, in my mind, I went, "this girl is not letting me fly that easily." So I told her I will cut into my sleep time and take 2hours off.
She went "hmmmmm...." and then asked, "how many hours of sleep do you have now?" I didn't want to say but I had no choice, so I told her 4hours. She exclaimed then went "Ha! Don't worry, you can't do the job."
As much as I wanted to revolt and then patronize her to give me the gig, I knew she was right because already, I am starting to see things that are not there.
My brain is starting to skip and that is It warning me that I am pushing myself too far. So imagine now if I take off another 2 hours of sleep and now left with just 2hours to sleep in all of 24hours. I might just land myself in a psychiatric home if I temper with my sleep time too much.
I knew I had to call myself to order when my daughter missed her midterm test because I had thought I read midterm break in the school memo. Or was it on two occasions now I wanted to purchase some items and pay with cash transfer? first transaction was two thousand, eight hundred Naira only but I had sent twenty eight thousand Naira I was lucky to get a reversal immediately from the vendor as it was a local market.
The one that happened recently was with a fast food, instead of three thousand five hundred Naira only, I had transferred thirty five thousand Naira and was also lucky to get a reversal after three days.
Another thing is, I do not even know I have made these errors until the vendors would bring to my notice asking me, "Madam how much did you transfer?"
It was in the case of the thirty five thousand Naira, I knew I had attained some level of financial freedom because before now? I will not be able to sleep with the thought of such money being in another person's account instead of mine. Especially knowing fully well there was no exchange.
Or was it Yesterday I had diluted my face cleanser with some water as it was making my face too light in complexion, I had wanted to shake it to mix properly before using as I had thought I covered it, but the cover was just on the ironing table escaping my minds eye and that was how some content poured out of the bottle and soiled the ironing table.
Other times, I find myself going the opposite direction and then realizing I am in the wrong route after few drive.
I do not need to be told how important sleep is for my mental health but at the same time I need to be able to finance my necessities.
It's a really tough trade off for me and I hope as I keep progressing, my sleep does not have to be the ultimate sacrifice in getting to where I want to be.
Thank you for reading....
PS
All images are mine
Hmm... That 4 years old boarding school in this Nigeria doesn't sit well with me too. I won't even buy into that package in any part of the world. Parents though... Why would they have kids if they will abandon someone in boarding school at a tender age? I know life happens and we can get ridiculously busy. However, that's a line that shouldn't be crossed. I'm glad you immediately showed your disinterest in that.
The one about sleep is just a tough thing to follow through. I believe we all know the importance of sleep. We also know that bills must be paid. So, anyone that have extra source of income will always be open to cutting down on sleep time to a fairly decent duration. Hehe. You really seem to have your life in order and I'm impressed with that. It's an inspiration.
Thanks so much for joining us in this edition of the challenge.
I was telling my friend that instead of me to dump my daughter in a boarding school, make I kuku carry her go drop for orphanage. People seem to forget that once you become parents, it's the offspring first before your job, before your ego and certainly before your emotions.
Thank you for the compliment and for this amazing challenge that makes one to reflect about their life. Looking forward to what you have for us next month 🙂
So sorry for all you are going through, please give yourself rest because even the brain and body need rest.
I wish you the best.
Thank you Sist. I'm trying with sleep now especially after work 🙂
Oh dear, you've really stressed yourself so much. I understand that you need to get the money trickling in but remember you need to be be healthy to eat it too. So try to readjust, okay, we need you strong and don't forget your girl too.
!HUG
I sent 1.0 HUG on behalf of @luchyl.
(1/3)
Yeah, thank you dear. I have adjusted alot after that 35k incidence?? I now sleep better, especially after work.
It is so true that today's life does force us to make sacrifices which end up being detrimental to us and those around us. For years I made do with less than 5 hour sleep, and I was not even as smart as you - cause I was working just for that one job which was paying me less than normal. But i felt i was duty bound to try and be on top of everything which meant very long hours from my time to UK time. result is that I still cannot sleep too well, and practically speaking I probably have sleep apnea. Add to it that thanks to working in front of computer day in and day out without moving around I am down in all my vitamins, especially D and B12. I only realised the latter when I started feeling lethargic and tired even when I had not eaten too much or got tired.
It is a big fight to get our brain in order in such times and it impacts one's productivity a lot. And the forgetfulness that you speak of, it has got worse since covid. For eg. on Friday I went and curated all the posts, put in comments and ratings etc. But I did not do the final submission :( And don't even get me started on names - I just cannot remember them :(
Take care of your health else you will be in same boat as me. And it will adversely affect our caregiving function.
Cheers from a fellow #dreemerforlife
Wow! I can imagine what you are going through because at a time I started experiencing it too, especially with that fatigued even when not stressed.
Good thing is, my sleep still comes at a point even when I don't want to sleep, my body crashes and I am forced to.
I am currently working at my sleep time, to sleep more especially after my first job. I can't continue risking transferring money in excess to avoid stories that touches the heart.😂
Thank you for your advice #dreemer.
#dreemerforlife
Honestly, this is a lot for just one person and I love the fact that you are sensitive enough to even see the effects. Please, try to correct it and get a lot of rest when you can.
By the way, the first part of this post is really shocking, I didn't know there is a possibility of that. Small children in boarding school? That is really serious.
Yeah, I am currently on a new sleep schedule, thank you 😘.
The way you were shocked, was the same way I was because I can't even imagine given my baby away at such tender age.
We need to do better not to sacrifice our children at the alter of money or for our own selfish reasons.
Hi fellow mom! I can feel the struggle especially with that 4 hours of sleep. I am fully aware on how lack of sleep can affect the brain but as a mom, it's the only option since we cannot steal time to our jobs and hope that our body wont be giving up soon. So Cheers to you ma'am and may you have a future with full time of sleep!
Thank you for your encouraging words... You are a darling ❤️
Wow, you are doing well. It is not easy on this quest of financial stability, especially when a child is involved. We want to give them a good life and make a loyal of sacrifices for them.
I do hope you get to sleep well and relax very soon and also be financially stable. Well done
Thank you dear 🌹