thefamily

My mind is feeling numb.  Probably the lack of sleep.  What should I blog about today?  Any ideas?  Kids and TV?  Kids and “educational videos”?  I completely don’t believe in those.  I’ve seen too many kids who watch those turn out to be idiots.  Kids and what . . .?  Or should I cover something else?  Spouse relationships.  More mommy esteem.  Something, I don’t know.  I’m just really tired today I guess.  Uncommon childhood health issues?  These are all things I want to blog on, just not right now.  Too tired.  I guess I’ll blog on the importance of getting enough sleep.

I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since . . . um . . . well.  Let’s see.  I got pregnant with child #1 in 2004.  So I guess that was the last time.  With the pregnancy came the never ending need to pee all night long.  Then came the uncomfortableness.  I couldn’t sleep because I’d pull muscles or got too big or couldn’t sleep on my back or stomach anymore.  Then she was born and woke up every few hours.  Then at the time she should have been learning to sleep through the night she began to have night terrors.  Those lasted until after our middle child was in his own bed, so what, about 2 years (she does still occasionaly have one, but at this time it was every night and even some nap times).  So by that point it’s 2007.  That’s three years of never getting a full night’s sleep.  Also by this time I was pregnant with our third, so once again I’m not sleeping because of pregnancy stuff, because of a toddler learning to sleep in his own bed through the night, and a daughter who occasionally screamed for half an hour at a time in the middle of the night.

Today my lack of sleep continues because night time is the only time I can clean house, wash dishes, organize the apartment, work on crafts, read, etc.  Everything I wanted to do during the day but couldn’t.  This lack of sleep has had a profound effect on my mommy esteem, my ability to play with my kids, keep my temper when needed, etc.  I need sleep, but get very little.  Most moms are like this, I think.  Even though we know better, we can’t help but steal a few hours for ourselves at night, especially if our kids don’t take naps (like mine).

My goal for the rest of this week and next is to go to bed by 10:30 PM.  I can’t remember the last time I went to bed by then and slept through the night.  Probably back in 2002 or earlier.   If you are one of those who stay up late working to finish all the loose ends of the household or trying to get a little personal time at night, try going to bed earlier for a few nights in a row and see if it helps you feel more energized, ready to play with your kids, willing to tackle household chores during the day, and happier.  We’ll experiment together.

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