Babys First Year Blog
Why Moms Need To Remember To Choose Sleep
Dear Moms, you need and deserve sleep!
The amount of work that I have piled up in front of me is daunting. There are blog posts that need to be written, bills that need to be paid, dishes quite literally stacked up in my sink and let’s not forget the two children whose every need must be met around the clock.
I don’t have more in front of me than any mom — I realize that. Being a mother is hard, whether you work outside the home, or in, it is sometimes a chore just to find the time for your own basic needs, including sleep.
Sometimes, though, I think moms are faced with a touch choice. Stay up one more hour and get some work done, or wave the white flag, and sleep.
This can be a tough call to make, because finding quiet time alone to work is so impossible.
I know that the stress of juggling everything with a newborn has really been taking a toll on my body and mind, and last night, I found myself looking at two sleeping kids by 11:00 p.m., which is unheard of.
I actually started to feel nervous about what to do with that precious free time. Should I eat, shower, blog, clean my house?
My husband could see me struggling, and said, “Why don’t you just go to sleep?”
The notion seemed almost insane, but then I realized that I would be crazy not to just choose sleep. I NEED SLEEP. I almost felt guilty (which is crazy, right?) at the idea that I was going to consciously put aside the three million tasks that needed to be addressed just to sleep.
I chose sleep, and it was good.
Have you ever felt guilty, or like you were wasting an opportunity by choosing sleep?
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6 Comments
Hollie commented on Jan 27 12 at 11:01 amUgh, I SO know what you mean! (Actually, I keep telling myself to get off the computer and nap RIGHT NOW). Something I found really surprising after I had my daughter was that I will choose sleep over food Every. Single. Time. I would lay down starving, with belly growling, and be able to fall asleep with that distraction. I never would have done that before motherhood. (Don’t worry, I eat plenty, just not if it’s time to sleep, ha ha).
Meagan commented on Jan 27 12 at 11:46 amIts not just a battle between sleep and commitments- I sometimes can’t choose between using my baby’s nap to catch an hour of sleep myself… or to have some TIME to myself. To think my own thoughts and maybe read a bit, or eat a meal slowly. That’s almost as valuable sometimes. For me it comes down to how exhausted I am… plus, which choice will replenish me more.
Sara commented on Jan 27 12 at 12:39 pmYes, any small amount of free time is precious. When I know I’ll have some time coming up (like when my mom takes the baby for a few hours) it’s like winning the lottery. I have a long list of things I *could* do, and I fantasize and plan what I will “spend” my time on just like fantasizing what I would do if I won some money. Spend it on responsible things, like chores or errands? Or on frivolous things, like watching a movie or getting a manicure? Or an uninterrupted nap? Sometimes a nap just seems like wasted time, but it is also important/enjoyable.
Savannah Cooper-Hughes commented on Jan 31 12 at 2:53 amYes. My husband has been gone since mid-November for training and it’s just been me and the kids. I don’t have family nearby, and although my neighbors are wonderful and very helpful, they all have kids of their own. I’m a full time student in my last semester at UHM and I have two lovely children, one 2, one 8 months. For the past week and a half I have been up an average of 4-6 times a night between the two of them. They have colds, one is teething, one is potty training, one wants to eat ALL the time… I know you know what I mean :) It’s rough. So when evening rolls around and the kitchen is a disaster area, I have a paper that needs to be written and my husband who is in a time zone 5 hours different than mine is finally online and can talk, it’s really, really, really hard to say “ok, I need sleep”. That white flag does Not go up easy.
Alicia commented on Feb 01 12 at 12:11 pmI feel guilty about sleeping every night. I have to take an Ambien just to get to sleep because otherwise I won’t let myself sleep. I’m trying to get off the Ambien but I have to figure out how to come to terms with going to sleep when there are other things I should/could be doing.
I have been working from home for a little over 11 years and all of these years I have felt like because I am home I should be getting more (cleaning, emails, showering) done. My husband is very supportive and is a huge fan of sleep.. in fact he’s sleeping now and it’s 12:10pm. Ugh! I know sleep is very important but it’s just so hard when you have two kids, a house, a business, and yourself. Good luck Crissy. Just remember that you are a great Mom!
NordicComfort commented on Feb 16 12 at 10:55 amMom’s shouldn’t have this dilemma, as you say, you NEED sleep – at the end of the day, what you’re doing is restoring your body and mind. Lack of sleep will make you feel grouchy and you’ll start getting irritated more often. This lousy mood doesn’t help your kids when you wake up, and it will make you feel worse! Why don’t you think of sleep as a way to be a good parent?
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