How to keep up positive energy when all you want is a little sleep?

[ecomama2two]

Hi there,

I hope it is alright to post in the section Technically, I am not a single parent. My husband does come home on average 8-10 days a month...for the next year or so. Family is a distance away as well. So, here is a question for all you single mommy's out there. How does you keep the energy positive 24/7? I have 2 beautiful kids. Absolute loves of my life, both of them. It does get exhausting and I even feel my memory slipping away. They are still on the young side too. Finances are a bit to tight for babysitters. So, here goes: How do you do it? What are some tricks to keep me being the mom I want to be: active, fun, homework helper, emotional supporter...run the house...do some work. 

I found a healthy diet an exercise REALLY helps. There is always one or two hours in the day where I wish there was a higher power to turn too...you know, dinners burning, kids decide this is the perfect time to flood the bathroom, roof starts leaking...ect...we all have those moments. How do you have enough reserve energy in you by the end of the day to not get short with the kidlets? How do you find time to read a book? Or is that time just not going to happen until they both are in school?

Any tips, suggestion will be greatly appreciated. My husband and I are going to "re-access"  the situation in June but until then....I'm one worn out mama!

[anon_abroad]

I would also like to sleep. Period. But as for advice I can offer:

1) yes to the healthy diet, and I will add: no alcohol to relax;

2) ORGANISATION is KEY, so plan schedules, meals, clothes...I can't stress how essential this is;

3) I would say reading, etc  would be for after their bedtime, and that's where organisation comes into play: kids in bed at whatever time and then you get your free time.

But you're human too, so if you get cranky explain why. I usually have my low between 1 and 2 pm, and the kids know that.

[Learning_Mum]

Originally Posted by anon_abroad 

3) I would say reading, etc  would be for after their bedtime, and that's where organisation comes into play: kids in bed at whatever time and then you get your free time.

But you're human too, so if you get cranky explain why. I usually have my low between 1 and 2 pm, and the kids know that.

I definitely agree with this. Bedtime is ALWAYS consistent. They go to bed at the same time every night and then it is my time to do whatever I want. I try to make sure the house is tidy and everything is organised before they go to bed so that I can just sit down and relax after I've put them to bed.

My only other suggestion is making sure to use the time when your DH is there to do something for yourself.

Plus make sure you get plenty of sleep.

Sometimes I'll also just put a movie on for them so I can have some time to read or look on the internet.
 

[tccandlsccmom]

I wouldn't trade being the primary parent for my kids for anything, but I am always always always tired, and rarely can do much for me.  I grab 10-15 minutes on the internet a night, but as for other things they are often few and far between.  But I figure I will have SO much time just for me next decade, that I need to soak up all these minutes with my kiddos now.  As for getting short with them, I try to stop myself, explain I got cranky, and ask for a do-over ...but sometimes I am just cranky for a bit then we move on....

[ecomama2two]

Thanks for the responses. My eldest is 9 and LOVES to push limits. Last night was exciting to say the least. I ended up saying the we ALL (Mama included) need to go to bed @ 7:30 or else is may get out of hand...or even more out of hand then the chaos already got. The kids woke up feeling great. I'm full of plans trying to keep organized like you guys suggested. 

Step 1: get washes done and lay out clothes for next week.

All lots of physical activity and outside play is huge in this household. Keep those endorphins up for all of us.

My 9 year old is a night owl. See literally needs only 7 hours of sleep per night and is generally fine. Do you think that it is reasonable to say you can hang out in your room after 8:30 but Mom is "off duty" and to be interacted with in emergencies only?

What do you think?

[anon_abroad]

My older daughter also needs very little sleep, she has never napped in her entire LIFE! Not even as a tiny baby! And she also needs only 8 hours sleep, which doesn't leave me much 'free time' when she's sleeping (and my free time is 99% catching up on work!). So I DO adopt the 'no interaction' after 9:00 pm (I live in Europe and bedtimes for children are quite late here), and as it almost a matter of survival, I stick to it very well and with very little guilt, and the kids are so used to winding down after 8:30, that it works like clock work now. The toughest time is summer holidays, when it's nice to stay up late with the sun, and schedules are a bit more relaxed, but I'm usually also in a better mood anyway, and somehow we make it work (this was my 2nd summer as single mum, and it was lovely, except I still LOVE the first day back at school and can work non-stop all morning :-))

So, in my humble opinion, and as I do with my kids, it's okay to sort of 'turn off' after 9:00pm.