Coffeegate!

If you've been around here for a while, or if you know us in person, you've probably heard the coffeegate story. As we approach the anniversary of coffeegate, I wanted to take the opportunity to share with you a little bit more about why I do what I do.

It was the holiday season of 2017, and it was our first Christmas home with our son. At this point, none of us had slept for more than two hours at a time in about a six-month period. We were exhausted, it was freezing cold here in the northeast, and we were running on fumes. My husband and I were surviving on coffee and car naps. We chose to spend Christmas at home that year, and it was tough. I can remember Christmas Day - I had taken my son for a ride in the car so my husband could sneak in a quick nap. Our son fell asleep, and I was parked in the playground parking lot taking a just a few minutes to rest. Everything felt hard - my husband and I were arguing a lot, and we both seem to have these headaches that we couldn't get rid of.

Fast forward just a few weeks, and my husband took a business trip to New York City. He got to sleep in a hotel room (by himself!) and finally get some rest. I can remember him calling me raving about how rested and refreshed he felt. Meanwhile, my son and I were just chugging along — and not sleeping — at home. 

After my husband returned from his trip re-energized and ready to go, we finally figured it out. We realized that for the past few weeks, he had been filling our coffee maker at home with decaf coffee. While his trip to New York did provide some respite, it also provided him with caffeinated coffee.

It was just a few weeks after that incident that I was having a dinner with a friend who happened to be visiting from Singapore. I was explaining my sheer level of exhaustion when she suggested hiring a sleep consultant. I thought that it sounded silly, but I was desperate.  We got connected, got started, and within just a few nights our little guy was sleeping through the night. 

I’m so thankful for the recommendation from a friend, and that my experience has allowed me to go on to help other tired families get the sleep that they need. I’ve been there - I get it. If you are surviving on coffee and car naps, it would truly be an honor to help you and your family get some rest. And if you’ve made this this far, use code ‘coffeegate’ for 20% off any sleep package over $75. 

As always, please reach out with any questions - nikki@nikkinelsonsleepconsulting.com.