I get cranky at night.  Brent learned early on that as the day wears on, I wear out.  We got the same advice all of you got when we began life together, “Never go to bed angry.”  That didn’t work for us, we weren’t getting much sleep.  Brent would just say, “Dot, go to bed. We’ll talk in the morning.”  Usually, whatever was bothering me had disappeared by dawn or if not, I could at least think clearly and be reasonable when I was rested.  First rule in the Evanson household:  Get mom to bed early ‘cuz if mama’s not happy, no one is happy.  We have also learned Hadley Mae is the same as her grandma; we don’t think straight when we’re tired.

Elle gets hangry when she is hungry.  Hangry is a real condition.  If the stomach is empty the brain doesn’t work.  And it’s the brain that keeps the emotions in check.  A granola bar is literally worth its weight in gold.  Having a hangry nine-year-old is no picnic and it is so easily rectified.  So, grandmas always have treats on hand.  The moms and dads will like you better if the treats are low in sugar, something about a sugar-high, which is a real thing, too.  I have convinced our girls that thinly sliced apples (Cosmic Crisp are our favorites) are apple chips and a much better snack than potato chips.  In fact, those apple chips disappear really fast.  

I believe there is a reason our culture calls for seven to eight hours of sleep per night and three meals a day.  That reason is: Keep humanity happy.  So, don’t be skimping on sleep hours or meals.  Sleep, eat, be happy and live the Good Life!