Growing up, my older brother and I were not very close. We did not start becoming close until we were both in college. When we did start becoming closer I realized my brother and I faced some of the same struggles in life. What to do with the rest of our lives? We had both been in more than one career field and we still were not sure.
Then we had children. Parenting can be a real challenge but I think we were both doing a pretty good job at it. Our kids got to see each other about once a year in the summer. During that time my big brother would do his best and see to it that I got some kind of break. (I had two boys close in age and then added a little girl. My hands were full.)
He often read them stories or told them stories at nap time or bedtime and he actually got them to sleep. I was amazed. In the summer they never wanted to nap or go to bed for me. He had a gift but at the time I do not know if I or any of us realized what a blessing his gift really was.
Now jump ahead a few years. I turned to him because I wanted to create a webpage where I could share what I was learning as a new mom and as a Catholic mom. I wanted my big brother’s thoughts. It turned out that during that time he had already created his Sleep With Me Podcast but it was still a hidden gem to most. He was doing it because he wanted to and not to win anyone’s approval. Good for you big brother!
I started listening to it here and there. As a mom sometimes shutting my brain off and getting to sleep could be a real challenge. I often would listen to the Rosary and sometimes I still do. Yet, now I have my big brother.
I am a person all about bonding with loved ones. It has always been my thing. I feel like I don’t get the opportunity to bond with my siblings as much as I would like and often wished that could be different. However, it is what it is. Yet, now I feel like I am bonding more with my oldest brother. At night when I am stressed and cannot get to sleep I turn to him. He may not know it but I do. I listen to him as if he is sitting next to me trying to help me and it WORKS. I am a sleep before I even know it.
After having my first child I learned that I am a person who needs sleep. A lack of sleep causes me to stop functioning like a normal person and I slowly start losing it. When I think I will not get enough sleep I begin to worry because I do not want to lose it. When this starts to happen I just say a prayer and listen to the podcast.
My brother has a gift. A gift that he loves so very much. A gift that he excels in. If you are like me and you toss and turn at night, I highly recommend you give this a shot. You can join me and the thousands of people out there who are put to bed by my big brother. Heck you might even hear a story with me in it 🙂
copyright 2016 Sheila M Scarpulla . All rights reserved. No reproduction without written consent
