Dear Libby,

My son just turned 6. He’s always been a firecracker, but his energy level recently is off the charts. He runs around all day at 200 MPH, which you’d think would wear him out, but no. Come bedtime, he’s still a ball of pent-up energy. He stays up all night reading books and playing with his toys. So obviously he’s exhausted come morning, right? Wrong. He just goes right back to tearing around everywhere.

I’m starting to get really worried. I can’t remember the last time he actually slept. I mean we’re talking weeks at least. That’s not normal, is it? He’s my first kid, so I know there’s a lot I have to learn. But when people talk about their kids being up all night, they usually mean babies, don’t they? The weird thing is he wasn’t fussy at all as a baby. Back then, he was sleeping so much, we were worried he’d grow up to be a lazy couch potato or something. What I wouldn’t give to have those days back.

When he was still sleeping all the time, we took him to a psychiatrist in town. The doctor gave us some experimental meds to give my son. The guy seemed to know what he was talking about, and obviously the meds worked. We stopped giving them to him since he wasn’t sleeping at all, but it didn’t make a difference. We went back to the psychiatrist, and he said our son needs a different kind of med that’s like 300 bucks a pill! Our insurance won’t cover it, and I can’t afford to pay that much. What do you think we should do?

–A Really Tired Dad

Dear “A Really Tired Dad,”

I’m assuming you took your son to see Dr. Eugene Long. He’s a wonderful psychiatrist, and he definitely knows what he’s doing. If he says your son needs those pills to start sleeping again, I don’t think you have much choice. You could always ignore Dr. Long’s advice, but the human body needs to sleep in order to recover. Who knows how much longer your son can last without it?

If I were you, I’d do whatever it takes to help my child. Sell your car. Sell your house. Sell your most prized possession if you have to. Now’s not the time to be stingy when it comes to your son’s health. With all this talk of a federally-mandated lockdown, you might be stuck in your house with him 24/7. Get those meds now before you miss your chance!

–Lovingly, Libby