My children are wild, my work is crazy, my life is overwhelming at times, but it's all mine, and I love every minute of it! I work as a Financial Aid Advisor, and am the mother to 3-year-old twin girls, Saniya and Saadia, and a 1-year-old boy, Silas. They keep my hands full, my heart over flowing, and everyone entertained! I will not be defeated!
Did you know that the average adult gets 6.9 hours of sleep each night? Did you know that I get about 3?
Did you know that sleep deprivation costs Americans about $100 Million annually in lost productivity, etc? Did you know that it costs me about $870 annually, in coffee alone?
Did you know that 7 out of 10 people express having sleep issues, although they have never been diagnosed? Did you know that I have been diagnosed?
My official diagnosis is Motherhood, and the prognosis is terrible. I am not expected to get more than a few hours of sleep each night for the next several years. As with every life altering realization, I have gone through the 5 Stages of Grief.
Step 1, Denial: This can not be happening to me. They can NOT be awake again!! It’s 2am and I haven’t even closed my eyes. This is not the life I ordered.
Step 2, Anger: WHY?!?!? Seriously, why? Why won’t they sleep? What have I done to deserve this??
Step 3, Bargaining: If you stay in your bed, I will give you anything you want, seriously, ANYTHING!! OK, well, if I let you get in my bed, then will you let me sleep?
Step 4, Depression: It’s hopeless. I quit. If the kids don’t sleep, I don’t sleep. If one child wakes up, they all wake up. That’s just the way it is.
Step 5, Acceptance: This is my life. I’m used to it really. I can function on the little sleep I get. Really, I can. If waking up 47 times every night, is the worst thing that I have to deal with, then that is OK by me. I have 3 healthy, happy, intelligent, young children. They are a gift. Even if the little buggers never, ever, EVER close their eyes…. ever.
So there you have it. I stand before you today, having accepted my lot in life, and declare that from this day forth, I shall not complain of how exhausted I am. I will embrace my destiny of sleepless nights, and chaotic days. I will hold my head high, and stay strong, because I will.not.be.defeated!
never heard it expressed better. just think, though, once they’re teenagers they’re supposed to want to sleep 12-14 hours a day! is that true, Dani, Jody? It’s the fact that carries me through…
Comment by Megan — October 7, 2009 @ 9:20 amI can shout with relief that my husband and I are past this stage (not without doing our time, I swear my son Ryan did not sleep for the first 2 years of his life–at all), but we BOTH still thought your post was hilarious and just dead on accurate in your description. I also made Rob read your bloggers block post and he thought that was hilarious also.
Comment by Hillary — October 19, 2009 @ 4:17 pmYes, children are gifts, the non-refundable, non-exchangable kind. Don’t worry, it will get better. They will eventually start sleeping through the night, but you will still lie awake wondering why it is so quiet and worrying if they are okay.
Comment by Jody — October 26, 2009 @ 3:53 pmThe only cure for motherhood is grandmotherhood. In the mean time, there’s lots of time to plan your revenge.
Amen. Sleep? What’s that?
Comment by Lisa — November 28, 2009 @ 7:09 pm