Ah, the infamous witching hour. It’s not exactly a full hour but more like the chaotic stretch between 5 and 7 p.m. when you’re faced with the Herculean task of feeding, bathing, dressing, and eventually coaxing your little ones to sleep. This is when your parenting skills are truly put to the test.
In my household, this is when all hell breaks loose. Hair gets yanked, limbs are nibbled, food is flung, and toys are obliterated. And that’s just me! The kids are racing around like they’re in a demolition derby, and I’m desperately shaking the TV remote, trying to drown out the cacophony with the evening news. And yes, wine is flowing—lots of it.
During this time warp, I’m usually feeling utterly wiped out from the long day. The noise feels louder, the tantrums escalate, and stress levels skyrocket. If I’ve channeled my inner culinary goddess and prepared a nutritious meal, I’m left fuming when the little rascals refuse to take a single bite. Cue the instant noodles or eggs on toast. Depending on my patience, it might even be cereal for dinner. I mean, corn is technically a vegetable, right?
After dinner, when the kids are streaking around in their birthday suits, smearing sticky fingers on the walls, I find myself needing another glass of wine—especially when I’m on my hands and knees cleaning up an unexpected mess while my youngest has somehow decided to turn the bathtub into a slide. The older one picks this moment to announce they need to go potty, and I’m left sitting there, eyes watering from the stench. It’s only 5:45 p.m.!
Bath time is a slow ordeal that ends with shivering children. It’s still only 6:15 p.m., and I’m on the brink. More wine, please! Dressing them is like trying to catch greased lightning as they dart around, giggling and hiding. I manage to tackle one into pajamas but discover the other has wreaked havoc in my makeup drawer—eyeshadow everywhere, lipsticks capped without winding down, and a delightful pool of water in the center of the room. My youngest is now screaming from exhaustion, so I just slam dunk him into bed, skipping the story because, honestly, he won’t remember it anyway.
As for the one who demands a story, I read to her and go through the nighttime ritual—filling her water bottle, putting on socks, and tickling her back while I sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” If I’m fortunate, she dozes off by around 7 p.m. If not, I find myself making a million trips back and forth, ensuring everything is just right. Pouring myself another glass of wine, I finally sit down to breathe.
Just when I think I can relax, my partner strolls in, triggering a barking frenzy from the dogs and waking both kids up. “How was your day?” he asks, as chaos reignites.
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Summary:
The witching hour is a chaotic time for parents, filled with noise, mess, and the challenge of getting children to bed. As parents juggle dinner prep, tantrums, and bedtime rituals, the stress can be overwhelming. Despite the chaos, a sense of humor and a good glass of wine can help get through this daily parenting trial.