Maid for Mondays: Surviving those sleepless nights!

Well…it’s that time of year again…SPRING FORWARD! I must admit that I am not like most Mom’s. I actually really like moving my clocks up an hour. I know that sounds crazy, but hear me out. My kids seem to think 5am is a good wake-up time! Wowza! Some days I’m lucky and get to sleep until 6:30am! And believe me when I say this does not bode well with my night-owl side! But, when the clock moves up an hour…aaahhh…I get to sleep until 7:30 or 8am!!! At least for a while…until their internal clocks readjust.

So, trust me when I say…I’ve had my fair share of sleepless nights! And even nights when there is very little sleep. I mean, I have FOUR children ages 6 and under for crying out loud! Just so you know…I rarely sleep a full 8 hours without interruption. Okay, let’s be honest, I rarely sleep 8 hours! I can’t seem to sleep much past 6½ or 7 hours. But, my body can run on that.

But 2 or 3 hours is another story. You know those nights. They are the ones that can steal your JOY come morning! They are the ones that make you count the hours and even minutes until naptime. So how do you not let them affect you and your attitude? Especially if you’re one that really enjoys her sleep?

Here are some simple steps you can take to ensure a pleasant and even JOYFUL day is had by all!

1. Start with Scripture: Even though you may have to drag yourself out of bed, this is a MUST! Even if it’s just a short passage you can meditate on in the “thinking room” (aka the restroom), it will change your mood. I have a book in our “thinking room” that is a short devotional for Mom’s. It’s absolutely perfect for those mornings when I’m dragging.
2. Take a shower if possible: I don’t always get to take a shower in the mornings due to the Hubster’s schedule. But, on those mornings I almost insist that I get the 20 minutes to myself. I need that quiet time to relax and reflect on what I’ve just read. Sometimes I spend that time crying out to God, “Why me? Why did they have to stay up last night of all nights? I have so much to do today. I can’t drag on like this.” Then, my cry turns into a plea for help. “Lord, I need help! I can not do this alone. I need even more patience than normal.” Now, I know praying for patience is dangerous, but trust me…He’ll be there with you every step.
3. Lighten your load: If at all possible, lighten the days load on yourself. Instead of doing 5 loads of laundry do 2-3 loads. And instead of prepping food for the week, only cook 2-3 days of make-ahead meals. Or simply push things back a day! It’s your house…who’s gonna know? Okay, your kids will know if you don’t feed them for an entire day, so do that. But seriously…if everyone has clothes for a couple days don’t stress over the laundry. It will get done!
4. Skimp on school: If you’re having one of those days, its likely your kids are feeling the effects themselves. (Even if they try to convince us otherwise with their hyperactive moods and rambunctious routines!) So, take it easy on school work. Switch it up and do something FUN for the day! Do an experiment for Science, take a nature walk if its nice outside and collect leaves and rocks. Act out your History lesson like a one-act play…the list could go on and on! The point is to do something active and fun!! From personal experience, it’s very difficult to get your tired kids to sit down and practice handwriting on a day like that!
5. Take a nap!! I know this probably seems impossible on some days, but sometimes just a short 30-minute nap is all I need to keep going or to re-energize me. If I get a nap, its usually when my three littles are down for their naps between 1pm and 4pm. Sometimes I even sneak in an hour! Trust me…its good for everyone if a tired, worn-out momma gets a quick nap in.

You don’t have to have multiple children to experience sleepless nights. I remember being up countless nights with our first-born. It was exhausting. Thankfully the Lord and good friends have helped me realize the 5 tips for surviving a sleepless night. And, now with four kids I can say that unless someone is sick, I usually get between 6-7 hours of sleep. I don’t know what I’ll do if another one comes along! I’m kinda’ getting used to it! Guess I’ll take my own advice and re-read this post!!

What are your tips for surviving those sleepless or sleep-little nights? Leave a comment below so we can all benefit!!

Blessings,

Annette


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