Let me start by asking you a question: What time do you go to bed? 10 p.m.? 11? Midnight?
“Don’t ask,” you mutter.
Later?
“Yup.”
Like how late?
“2 a.m.”
Geez, why do you stay up so late?
I hear you take a deep sigh. “Because.”
Because what?
“Because. It’s the only time of day I have to myself.”
What do you mean?
“Once my day starts, I’m constantly on the move. Getting kids up, dressed, fed, to daycare, doing activities, reading stories, filling sippy cups, wiping poopy butts, whatever! When the kids finally go to bed at night, then it’s finally my time. Time to check e-mail, to update Facebook, polish my nails, do my hair, pluck some eyebrows, shower. It sucks that I stay up so late, but when you don’t get enough personal time during the day, you do what you have to do.”
Ahh, I see.
“Do you?” Your voice is getting kind of pissy now. “My kids sleep through the night now. I should be well rested.”
You take a deep breath. “I’m not complaining – really, I’m not. I love my kids and spending time with them is great. I just…get tired of being Mommy 24/7. At some point during the day, I need to turn it off and just be…me.”
Well, that makes sense.
Anyone out there feels like I’m speaking to you? Do you crave that late-night me time?
Ok, that describes me completely. I thought I was crazy for staying up so late but it’s the only time I can watch a movie, read a book or do what I can’t when the kids are awake.
Oh wait, you mean you weren’t copying a conversation from me?! LOL, that’s EXACTLY how I am. Like I stated in a previous post, I feel bad every morning when I wake up because as soon as I do, I’m looking forward to night time again. I count down the hours until it is time for my son to go to sleep so that I can finally do something I want to do. Granted my son is a ball of energy and truly entertaining, I get sick of having him up under me all day long, following me around whinning, having to change poopy diapers, trying to figure out what he is going to eat/drink, and so on. I do check my email and Facebook during the day, but I feel bad because it’s taking away time from him and I can’t really focus or enjoy what I’m doing because I have to constantly stop to fuss or entertain him. So lately, I have been staying up until about 2-3 o’clock in the morning. I love the peace and being able to do what I want, actually watch something that isn’t animated, etc. I usually regret it in the morning though which is probably even more of a reason I’m counting down until night time again, lol
As tired as I am when he finally goes to sleep, I should go when I put him down but then “me time” would be totally non-existent :-/
i wish i could say it gets easier! my daughter is now 12 and as they get older they stay up later and you have less privacy. that means the alone time that was once cherished at 830pm is now bumped to 10pm. And even when theyre in their room, they dont go to sleep! i used to think being a young mum with a kid under 5 was tiring. now i find myself missing those days.cause at least she was out for the night.
@Erykah – Aww, man! LOL. I guess this just means that we have to embrace the pros of each stage and let the frustrations fall away…
having children is like having your heart outside your body.it’s a lifetime commitment. youre learning for the first time and so are they.i kno for myself i am very hard on myself.once i gave up the good mom myth and stopped worrying about what others thought, coping got easier. whatever stage youre at, im with the addage you sleep when they sleep! course teenagers sleep half the day im looking forward to that! lol make time for yourself. take care of their mommy.and as for being a younger mom, heck im happy about it. ill be done sooner and apparently 40 is the new 20 haha