We have two boys, 5.5 and 3.5, and I am a damn good mommy to them... when I get enough sleep. :) They are high energy and I am too... when I am at my best. I love parenting them... when I've had a good night's sleep.
Sound familiar?
Since they both started sleeping through the night in the last few years, I've been having a blast. But I'm pregnant again, and as third trimester rolls by I am already suffering from poor and broken sleep. And the baby isn't even here yet! There are some days, like today, when I do all I can to drag myself through the day and give my boys monosyllabic answers to their interesting questions. I thought it would be good to keep a list of coping techniques to make these sorts of days suck a little less. Here's my start:
- If I have 15 minutes, take a shower.
- Get dressed in clothes I feel good in; even maybe put some eye shadow on and earrings, etc.
- Make sure I am taking deep breaths.
- Get as much light as I can.
- Stay away from sugar so I can stay away from the blood sugar drop afterwards.
- Try to get outside for a little bit.
- Have the first thing I do as I leave the bedroom be a minor task that I could write down on my to do list for the day as "done," like, "Start a load of laundry" or "Water the plants."
- Listen to upbeat music.
- Call a friend and ask her questions... but don' whine about my own day.
- Movie night.
- Arts and crafts for the kids in the living room, with me laying on the couch.
Other ideas?
I'm expecting #3 in mid-June, and I'm also worried about my energy levels and my ability to keep it together after this baby is born.
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