It’s the witching hour, and while the rest of the household is lost in slumber, here I am, wide awake. If I could just drift off now, there’s a chance I could salvage something resembling a full night’s sleep instead of a mere catnap.
How on earth can my husband, Jake, sleep so soundly? I envy his ability to catch Z’s without a care in the world. Why does motherhood feel so closely tied to sleepless nights? He looks so serene, almost handsome. Maybe if I snuggle closer, I can coax him awake. We really should prioritize more cuddles and go out on a proper date—it’s been ages since we had one.
Perhaps we could hire a babysitter for Friday night and catch that film everyone’s buzzing about. What was it called again? It’s on the tip of my tongue. The star is… oh, what’s her name? The one married to that actor—oh, Ryan Reynolds! She used to be on that show about the elite in Manhattan. Ugh, how could I forget her name?
I should just wake up Jake and ask him; he’d know. Or maybe that old friend of mine, Clara, would remember. I haven’t reached out to her in forever. I wonder how she’s been. A girls’ weekend sounds delightful! But realistically, I can barely find the time to chat with my best friend these days. Speaking of which, I haven’t heard from her in a while. I hope she’s okay. Is she upset with me?
Calm down! She’s probably swamped with her own life. But what if something terrible has happened? What if she’s in the hospital or dealing with a crisis? I’m such a lousy friend. I should text her right now.
Argh! What’s the name of that actress?! I used to be so in tune with pop culture—now it feels like I can’t keep up with anything fun. I miss going out for dinner and dancing. Now, my idea of a night out is watching a movie on the couch with stale popcorn.
Maybe I should experiment with my hair again—should I grow it out or try a vibrant color? Or should I just embrace the gray? Why must we conform to societal standards of beauty? Didn’t that actress, Julia, stop shaving for a time? Okay, that’s too far—I’ll stick with a touch-up at the salon.
The dog is quite cozy against me, but—ugh, what is that smell? Did he just fart? Or worse, did he have an accident? Why can’t he just move? My leg is cramping. I should really start stretching more. Everyone raves about yoga. If only I could do it, maybe I’d sleep better, too. Jake even does yoga—maybe that’s the key to his blissful sleep!
Ahek-huck! What’s that noise? Is one of the kids sick? Great, I can already picture a feverish child at home tomorrow when I have so much work to catch up on. Oh no, my throat feels a bit scratchy. Please don’t let me be getting sick. Should I still get a flu shot?
I need to remember to grab some oranges and vitamin C supplements from the store. A healthy diet might just be our shield against all these viruses. When was the last time we had a proper dinner? Pizza again last night. The night before? Subs with a sprinkle of lettuce—that counts, right?
An hour has passed, and I’m still wide awake, with no recollection of that actress’s name. She probably bounced back to her pre-baby body in no time. I bet she does yoga, too.
I need to calm down. Let’s try some breathing exercises. Inhale, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Hold…wait, what? I can’t hold my breath for seven seconds. Who even can?
Maybe meditation is the answer. Instead of raising my voice when the kids start bickering, I could just smile serenely and think, “I’m meditating.” They’d probably ask why I look so funny, but I’d just smile and think, “I’m zen.”
Breathe in. Ugh, forget this. Breathe out. Why not just let my frustrations out in a more constructive way? That might help me deal with demanding clients who are constantly hounding me. What if they complain to my boss? What if I lose my job and we have to move back in with my parents? Oh no, that would be a nightmare!
Or would it? The kids would get to see their grandparents more often. I should call my parents. I don’t reach out enough. I’m a terrible daughter. I should express my love more.
Will my kids even call me when they’re adults? I need to tell them I love them more often.
Blake Lively! That’s it! I wonder if she calls her parents often. Wait, I’ve got it! I know how to finalize that client’s project; it’s brilliant! They will love it. My boss will be thrilled too!
If only I could get a moment of sleep. Maybe I should just get up and start my day since the alarm will ring in 30 minutes anyway. I’ll just close my eyes for a few more minutes.
27 minutes later…
“Mom! Time to wake up! You are such a sleepyhead.”
Sigh…how many hours until I can sleep again? And what was that brilliant idea I had about Blake Lively?
In Summary
In summary, the midnight thoughts of a mom reflect a whirlwind of worries, nostalgia, and the constant juggle of daily responsibilities. From longing for a date night and grappling with health concerns to pondering friendships and parenting, these late-night musings speak to the heart of motherhood, capturing the unique blend of chaos and love that comes with it. If you’re interested in more on this topic, check out resources on fertility and home insemination.