It’s very cliche but we’ve heard the sayings many times. “You don’t miss something until it’s gone” or “If you really love something, give it up, and then you’ll have a greater appreciation for it later.” So, with the help of our littlest roommate, Jenn and I have begun to grow more appreciative of the one thing we seem to be missing the most these days… sleep. Certainly I always had a half-hearted appreciation for the 8-12 hours of sleep I was able to get with my :22 second commute downstairs two days a week, but these days 4 hours of solid sleep is a BMW style luxury. I didn’t realize how much I missed it.

What really confuses me is that all around, the Austin household misses sleep. Even Ryan, who seems to wake with the ease of a Tiger Woods pickup line, often rubs his eyes and tiredly whines as if to say, “Dad, why can’t I sleep.” Maddie seems to have lost a step also. Our little canine roommate has suffered along side us in the lack of sleep war and sometimes looks at her younger brother with an eye of confusion and resentment. All in all though she’s holding up well.

So, I can say unequivocally, that it’s true. I miss sleep more than ever. Someday, I can only hope Ryan will know this same pain.