DEAR ABBY: If you're not up to here with responses to "Dad, the Morning Rooster," please consider my comments for publication.
"Dad's" son could have been me when I was young. Alarm clocks never had the desired effect on me. I was called lazy, and my guidance counselor said I lacked motivation. My teachers branded me a slacker. I slept on the bus, slept in class, etc., although I tested off the charts for aptitude and intelligence. Because of my sleep problems, I barely graduated from high school and had an extremely difficult time in college. My employers were even less understanding of my difficulty than my teachers.
Abby, when my wife complained about my sleepiness and difficulty in waking up, I finally consulted a doctor. Guess what, folks! I do not get restorative sleep. I have a condition called sleep apnea that prevents the sleep state from rejuvenating me.
I am scheduled for a surgical procedure that may relieve me of this affliction, and I'm excited beyond words. "Dad" should have his son evaluated at a sleep disorder clinic, before the relationship is strained beyond repair. -- WAITING FOR A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP IN GALENA, OHIO
DEAR WAITING: Sleep apnea can, indeed, interfere with restorative sleep, leaving one still in need of rest when the sun comes up in the morning. Perhaps the young man does suffer from this disorder and would benefit from being evaluated by a sleep disorder specialist. Thanks for suggesting it.