Dear Home Insemination Kit,
I find myself drowning in a bedtime crisis. Let’s be real: before the pandemic, getting my kids to sleep was no walk in the park, but at least I could depend on them to hit the hay at a decent hour and stay in their own beds. I cherished the evening moments spent unwinding with a glass of wine while watching my favorite shows. Now, I’m lucky if they’re tucked in before midnight, and nighttime wanderings have become a norm. I’m completely worn out, and if I hear my mother-in-law go on about how “kids need a schedule” again, I might just snap. I need some serious help!
It feels like you’ve been watching my family because, aside from the bed-hopping, your description is spot on. It seems like we’re all in the same boat. There’s a reason why the book “Go the Heck to Sleep” became a bestseller.
When everything shut down, we had no idea how our daily lives would change. Now, it’s clear: everything is affected. Here’s my advice: first, let go of expectations and seriously lower your standards. And then lower them again. Comparing our current reality to how things were before the pandemic leaves us feeling inadequate. Yes, our kids are getting way more screen time than we’d normally allow, and bedtime routines have gone out the window. But that’s perfectly okay. These are not ordinary times, and we shouldn’t judge our lives based on the “normal” we once knew.
So, if bedtime is shifted to later hours, so what? Perhaps that aligns better with your kids’ natural rhythms. My own children, ages 10 and 13, have transitioned from a 9 PM bedtime to crashing around 11 or 12, and sleeping in later than before. That’s just how it is now.
Is there a specific time when your kids seem more likely to settle down? Go with it. Do they need extra bedtime stories? Plan for it. If they frequently end up in your room, maybe it’s time to stop the struggle and consider a sleeping bag on the floor, or even a bigger bed.
Another helpful approach is to meet your children where they are at. Rather than trying to force change, adapt to their needs—within reason, of course. You might discover that this flexible bedtime situation actually works for your family. And regarding your mother-in-law and Karen from the neighborhood Facebook group? Feel free to ignore their unsolicited advice about “schedules” and “perfect little sleepers.” They likely have no clue what it’s like to parent during a global crisis.
In summary, bedtime routines can be a disaster even in the best of times, and these are anything but. Lower your expectations and do whatever works for your family. For more tips, check out this related post on homeinsemination.gay. Also, if you are struggling with urinary issues during this time, intracervicalinsemination.com offers great insights. For additional resources about pregnancy and home insemination, visit NHS.