Last night I was up numerous times with my four-year-old as he was having bad dreams. The two-year-old decided he needed some attention too. Add to that being five months pregnant and it was a loooong and “FUN” night. When I woke up this morning, I was tired and already planning to scrap my day. Forget schoolwork or trying to accomplish any extra household tasks. We can just have a pajama and TV Day… are what went through my mind. Over the years of being a Mom and adding more kids into the mix, I have learned to take the following steps and restructure my day with little sleep. If you are Up Late with Little Kids, here are some Ways to Survive the Next Day.
Pray Over Your Day
Before I even roll out of bed I pray over my day. As a professing Christian I know I by myself will not make it through the day. It will be easy to scrap everything planned. Be cranky and snap at the kids but that is not the kind of Mom I want to be. Rather, I pray and ask God to be with me every step of the day, be with my thoughts, attitude and words so I can be a light to my kids for Him. Or I may simply pray for The Fruits of the Spirit. I also ask for energy and to make what sleep I did get to be enough. The hymn I Need Thee Every Hour by Annie S. Hawks is a great song to remember on days like this.
Focus on One Thing at a Time
Don’t worry about whole day, or thinking ahead to what needs to get done two hours from now, this afternoon, etc. Focus on doing the next thing and just keep moving forward. Wake up. Brush your teeth. Wake up the kids. Change a diaper. Fix breakfast.
Focusing on doing the next thing helps you to not become overwhelmed and stressed about your day. Before you know it, you will look up and nap time will be mere minutes away and you too can lay down if needed.
IF Possible Relax Your Schedule
Next, I think over what absolutely has to get done for the day. Can I move less important things that aren’t as pressing to a different day. Maybe the Kids and I can relax and play outside in the morning and enjoy the breeze and sunshine. Maybe chores and schoolwork can be moved to the afternoon or even until Sam gets home. Sometimes depending on the kids’ moods, a lazy TV Day is in order to survive and that is perfectly OK.
Show Yourself Grace
Recognize that you are tired and you may get frustrated more easily. Just be patient with your kids and yourself. Relax and give yourself grace on the hard days. You will be OK, and you can pick up the slack another day when you have had adequate sleep.
Drink LOTS of Coffee
Do I need to say more??? 🙂 Make some at Home. Load the Kids up in the car and treat yourself. OR if that sounds like too much work then DoorDash some caffeine IF you are in a delivery zone.
Remember to drink water too as that will also help you wake up and is another great way to survive the next day.
Ask for Help
I honestly have a hard time taking this advice. I want to do it all, and don’t like to admit when I need help. However, I am human and five months pregnant at that, so I can’t do it all every day. Realistically, I do need help. Whether that be asking my Kids to grab a diaper and wipes. Pass out drinks or work together to clean up. I may even need to admit to Sam that I am having a rough day so he can help out in some compacity. Maybe that looks like him taking a personal day off work, coming home early OR taking over parenting duties once he gets home so I can go rest.
Now that we live near my parents calling up the Grands asking for relief is another option, I could take advantage of. OR maybe calling to see if a Babysitter could stop by and help for a few hours while you nap or relax and recharge before finishing out the day.
What Tips Do You Have for Mamas?
If you have additional ideas to Survive the Next Day after being up all night with little kids, please share in the comments. OR if you desire to hear another Mom’s perspective on how to Survive the Next Day with Little to No Sleep be sure to check out Lydia Senn’s video How I am Showing Up on Monday after No Sleep on YouTube.
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