I've been working flat-out since way too early this morning and was just thinking that a few minutes of hammock time might be a good idea before the rest of the day starts going really crazy, when this headline from the TImes On Line grabbed my eye: ‘I know Thatcher survived on four hours – I need a bit more’.

Without going into any thoughts on Maggie Thatcher and how much of an inspiration she could ever be to me, as that would certainly be another blog or fifty, but since the story is actually about older moms and the sleep we need, this aspect of the Old Dear seemed a good prompt for a post.

The thirty-eight-year-old education correspondent for the Times has a new baby at home, and the headline was a direct quote ... not that thirty-eight really qualifies as "older", since it just happens to be my DAUGHTER'S age, but you get the idea.

Although the National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that, in general, older people require less sleep than those younger, I'm either not fitting the "in general" bit, or not old enough yet to have this be true of me. (Guess which I'm voting for.)

It could be debated, however, that I'm confusing how much sleep I need with how much I want. You see, I like to sleep. I love to sleep. I like all forms of sleep, from the deep to the doze, from the night to the nap, from thirty winks to a solid eight hours, I'm a happy sleeper.

Over the past few years my sleep patterns have had to change. Not only am I now well on the downhill slope toward sixty ... and I ain't talking miles-per-hour, unfortunately, although some days it does feel like that, too ... I just happen to share my sleep space with an almost-five-year old who sleeps like Jackie Chan in a room full of bad guys, but with a kick more like a mule.

I'm pretty much done with doing the menopause mambo, so I'm only occasionally fried out of a deep sleep by a flash of hormonal fire, but many of us older adoptive moms find ourselves a bit conflicted when we hear the euphemism "the change" and have to pause for a sec to establish if it's "the diaper" or "of life" that completes the thought.

Sleep disorders are said to rise significantly after menopause, but menopause and poor sleep may go together. Between the bouts of hot flashes and increased frequency in urination, a good night's sleep is tough enough without having to check on the baby, supply a glass of water or chase monsters out from under beds.

(It could be argued, then, that menopausal women are perfect parents for little ones, as ... what the heck! ... we're up anyway!)

Is it any wonder I put a phenomenal value on naps and strongly encourage the siesta-mentality in others?

And I'm not alone. Google "napping" and you'll come across loads of sites touting the benefit of the afternoon snooze, the 'power nap' as it's now known ... a sad commentary on today, in my opinion, but if it gets some stressed-out gung-ho types to kick back at their trading desks for a bit of shuteye on a regular basis, then, fine.

According to About.com's "Guide to Stress Management", a nap is a terrible thing to miss. (Okay, that little play on words in mine, but you get the drift. Get it? Drift? Sleep? ... oh, never mind.)

... research shows that you can make yourself more alert reduce stress and improve cognitive functioning with a nap. Mid-day sleep, or a ‘power nap’, means more patience, less stress, better reaction time, increased learning, more efficiency and better health.

And you can also knock out almost half of Snow White's less pleasant roommates: Sleepy, Grumpy AND Dopey ... and even Sneezy may duck out the back if you're lucky, but allergic.

My train of thought seems to be uncoupling ... must be ... time for my nap ...

ZZZZZZZZZZZ ..........