The day kicks off at 7 a.m. The baby’s wails pierce through the calm of the morning, my feet touch the ground, and I immediately think, “Oh great, not enough sleep again.” A quick glance at the clock reveals I barely clocked five hours last night. It’s frustrating, but honestly, I can’t complain too much; this is just how life goes now, and I’m mostly to blame. A few gray strands in my hair remind me that I really should know better than to stay up late scrolling through social media or binge-watching the latest hit show. Yet, here we are again.
I let out a yawn that could rival a lion’s roar, already regretting the late-night episode of my favorite series. Time to board the Struggle Bus, where my dreams of sleep will float through my mind like background music for the next eight hours. Time to pull up those Big Girl Panties.
I start brewing coffee, packing lunches, as the day rushes forward like an unstoppable freight train. At this point, I can’t tell if I’m on that train or standing in front of it. Hopefully, caffeine will work its magic.
My kids are full of energy: tugging at my clothes, scattering bacon everywhere, and debating whether we should watch Moana or Sing. I feel the urge to pull my hair out but instead, I take a deep breath and remind myself to keep those Big Girl Britches securely in place.
I can’t let my exhaustion surface with them; it’s not their fault I lost track of time with Jamie Fraser last night.
In this moment, I promise myself (again) that tonight will be the night I hit the hay early. The night I shut down social media, close my eyes, and finally address the sleep debt of the last four years. I need rest. My kids deserve a well-rested mom.
You would think that when the day finally winds down, I’d seize the chance to hit the pillow and drift off. You’d assume that once the kids are asleep, I’d crawl into my cozy bed, turn off my phone, and fall asleep like a normal person.
Well, you’d be mistaken.
What’s going on with me? Who lives like this? What kind of person dreams about sleep like a long-lost friend, only to turn it down like an unwanted call from the in-laws? Mamas everywhere can relate.
We understand that when the kids are finally in bed and the house quiets down, that’s when our second wind kicks in. Bedtime transforms into a time for our brains to come alive. Sure, we grumble about tiredness, but many of us also embrace those moments when we could sleep but choose not to.
Because nighttime is ours! The house is still, and we have a chance to think our thoughts and enjoy adult activities without constant interruptions for juice or help with tiny shoes.
We crave sleep, but we also long for alone time. Unfortunately, there never seem to be enough hours in the day for both.
It might be hard to comprehend, but within every mama’s mind, there are two voices: one yearning for a cozy blanket and a back rub, the other dismissing sleep as a distant fantasy. We are all worn out, but that fatigue is physical, mental, and emotional. Sleep only resolves one piece of that puzzle, right? Parents need emotional rejuvenation, so we stay up late to steal precious quiet moments for ourselves. We need to unwind mentally, so we take those fleeting moments of wakefulness whenever we can. For most of us, that means we’ll be awake after bedtime—however long that takes.
Yes, I think about sleep all day long, but when bedtime arrives, I’ll probably choose to stay up again. Why? Because I’m a mom, and I’m allowed to be perpetually sleep-deprived while still embracing the beautiful chaos that is my life. Those two experiences can coexist.
Moms everywhere, let’s raise those venti lattes and say “Amen.” We are unique women, bonded by motherhood. We wear our exhaustion like a badge of honor while navigating our roles as moms, partners, friends, and more. We need spaces where we can discuss life beyond parenting. For further insights, check out our post on home insemination and explore valuable resources on pregnancy at the World Health Organization.
In summary, the struggle for sleep is a universal experience for many mothers, who often choose to sacrifice rest in favor of cherished alone time. As they navigate the demands of motherhood, they find moments of joy and connection, all while juggling the chaos of daily life.