Before entering the world of parenting, I was someone who cherished my early nights and early mornings. Motherhood, however, has transformed me into a night owl who still wakes up at the crack of dawn. Oh, sweet sleep, how I long for you! After chatting with fellow moms, I’ve realized I’m not alone in finding myself staring at the clock in the middle of the night. If you’re also awake during those quiet hours, take comfort in knowing you share this experience with many mothers. Here are 12 reasons why a mom might be up at 12 A.M.:
- Her little one in utero thinks the nighttime is party time, relentlessly kicking her in the ribs and bladder.
- Her newborn has decided that night is the perfect time for a loud celebration, which unfortunately involves crying non-stop.
- Her baby is experiencing a growth spurt and requires nursing every hour, on the hour.
- Her once-sleeping-through-the-night baby has suddenly reverted to waking up multiple times, and she suspects it might be teething.
- Her toddler has had yet another bedwetting incident.
- Her preschooler woke her up sobbing from a bad dream.
- Her preschooler is having a night terror, causing her to panic and think, “Is my child possessed? Maybe I should schedule an exorcism.”
- She realized at 11 p.m. that she volunteered to bake four dozen cookies for the school bake sale tomorrow. Oops.
- She grossly miscalculated the time needed to create her child’s costume for the school play, with dress rehearsals starting the next day. Oops again!
- Her preteen is grappling with a mini existential crisis, prompting late-night deep conversations with Mom.
- Her teen, whose curfew is midnight, has just texted, “Running a little late,” leaving Mom in a whirlwind of worry and frustration.
- With everyone else peacefully asleep, she finds herself at a rare moment of solitude. Despite knowing she should’ve been asleep an hour ago, she cuddles up in bed, binge-watching Netflix shows and convincing herself she won’t regret it tomorrow.
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In summary, the late-night experiences of moms are both varied and relatable, from dealing with restless children to embracing rare moments of solitude. It’s a shared journey that many can understand, filled with both challenges and small joys.