Having one of those days when I desperately wish I could walk away from being a mom

[malayasmommy]

I have a 3 year old who sleeps like crap.  We have tried SO many things, read SO many books...I won't bore you to tears with all the ways we've tried to get her to sleep gently.  Let's just say that I've been there, done that.  Last night she woke up at 2pm and was wide awake until 5:30, then up at 7am and now is not napping.  I am 34 weeks pregnant.  I just can't take this.  What do you do when you just want to walk away from parenting and never come back?

[goldingoddess]

I put on Kipper and play sudoku. 

[MrsBone]

did you mean she woke at 2am? Anyway, has it been like this for awhile, or is it just in the past couple of days? If it's something new, it will end! Has she been a bad sleeper since birth? Have you looked into food allergies, intolerances?

[JamieB]

I am so sorry mama! I knowmyou said you rad a lot of booksmbut have you read Sleepless in America?

http://www.amazon.com/Sleepless-America-Child-Misbehaving-Missing/dp/0060736011

I found it really helpful and very different from other books. Good luck

[earthworm]

Depending on my energy levels and the weather, we may go outside. Preferably to a park with a fence so I can relax a bit. Or I put on a movie and attempt to relax that way. Or! find someone that can watch the kids and do something nice by myself, even if it is just for a short period of time.

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this! Sleep issues are very difficult. I'm right there with you and have absolutely no suggestions or advice, heh.

I hope something changes for the better. :)

[CrunchyChristianMama]

PBS

I understand the sleep thing.  It wasn't until we found out that DD was a Celiac and found out how careful we had to be about gluten and cross-contamination we had crazy sleep problems around here.  It is sooooo draining. 

[Shannie77]

I so feel for you... I just posted on the parenting board about my DD who is almost 4's sleep issues.  I wish I had the answer...  WHen I was pregnant with #2 I did have some success nightweaning DD1.  It did involve some crying but it really helped.  Unfortunately that all went out the window when DD2 was born.

[malayasmommy]

Hey all.  Thanks so much for your responses.  Sometimes I feel like I have no where else to turn since most people do sleep differently than we do.  We've had some sleep, and I'm no longer thinking of walking away.  :-)  My daughter has actually been slightly better about sleeping lately, I just finished reading "Sleepless in America" and "No Cry Sleep Solutions--Toddler and Preschool" and it's very helpful.  I liked the "Sleepless in America" especially because I felt like I had a chance to see how my daughter's temperament could be affecting her sleep--and surprise surprise most the the traits she has makes it more difficult to get to sleep!  It was a relief to see that, just because I couldn't help but feel like "What did I do wrong???"  We've gotten her tested for allergies/intolerances through our naturopath and addressed the few issues that came up so I feel comfortable with that.  I think I have a very strong willed, stubborn daughter who has a temperament not compatible with easily sleeping (hmmmm, sounds a LOT like her mom!).  Lucky I have a wonderful husband who let me sleep enough to be able to look at it from this perspective.

Thanks again for your thoughts and encouragement!

[pianojazzgirl]

Sending hugs mama... .I know how hard life is when you're not getting enough sleep.

[Momsteader]

Hugs! I remember those days. My now 11 yo still isn't a great sleeper. Well, once he falls asleep, he's out. Sometimes for up to 12 hrs! But, getting him to FALL asleep has always been a challenge. Once he was 4 what really helped us was audio books. He can listen to them as much/as late as he wishes as long as he stays in bed and stays quiet (and audio book can't be turned up over a certain 'number' on the player. And, now that he's older, he's also allowed to get up for a melatonin (3 mg dissolve one) if it's been several hours and he can't sleep. Or, sometimes he will ask before bedtime for one.  For him, the key is LOTS of physical activity and LOTS of outdoor time no matter the weather. He's a very active kid and without that....he just cannot turn off his brain and go to sleep.

When he was smaller, and he couldn't sleep but I just HAD to. I would put in a video and lie on the couch with him tucked in with me so I could wake up if he got up. Again, similar to the audio books 'rules', as long as he stayed on couch with me, he could watch the video. I tried not to do this one too much, because then he'd wake up JUST to watch the video! LOL  But, sometimes mama just HAS to sleep or else! And I also found that up through about age 5, he really did either need a few naps a week to 'catch up'. We couldn't do one every day, but you could tell he was tired. I'd lay down and set a timer for 30 or 45 mins and we'd both fall asleep for a 'power nap' then get up and do something.