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The Top 5 Ways A Mom Has Lost Sleep

Filed Under: Crazyiness, Kids Posts, Married Life Tagged With: , , , , , ,

“Good morning sunshine!!”

This was my father when he would tease me as a teenager in the morning when I would get up about sleep. By morning, I mean around 11 am. This was, of course, on weekends, summer vacation or holidays. I am still not sure how I used to get up for school in the morning without much problem (my memory gets a bit hazy there!), but then again the snooze button was truly my friend!

I started to think about my sleep patterns when I was younger, because my older daughter has been sick and sleep again has become a rare and precious commodity. Before kids came into play, I loved sleep and even joked that I could make a sport or even a career out of it.

I remember how annoyed I would get if someone or something interrupted my precious sleep then. But that was then and this is now. I still love sleep, but unfortunately being a mother has changed all that for me. If you are a mother, then you probably have some idea what I mean about.

There are ways I would love to be awoken when sleeping and then are are ways I wouldn’t. Most of the ways I wouldn’t come in the form of my kids and even my husband sometimes.

The Top 5 Ways A Mom Has Lost Sleep - Crying Vomiting Baby Cartoon by Chris Desatoff from I Work Off The Clock!!

So here are the Top 5 Ways I Have Gotten Awoken as a mom:

1. A Screaming Colicky Baby.

Nothing is worse then a baby that has colic, that wakes up screaming and crying. Chances are nothing you can say or do will calm this baby enough to stop for hours on end. Plus when the baby finally passes out, so may you right where you are standing. Hopefully it is your first baby and you can at least sleep for a bit. Even though this was almost 8 years ago, I don’t think I will ever forget those early, newborn, colicky, sleepless nights.

2. A Sick Baby/Child.

Here comes the next worst wakeup call and that is a sick child. Whether it is a fever, congestion or vomiting, this will also probably be a long night. I would say vomiting is up there as possibly being the worst. Why? Because not only do you have to comfort the said child, but now you have to clean up smelly puke. Not fun at all for anyone, especially mom!

[Tweet “How have you lost sleep as a parent?”]

3. A Potty Trained Child Having An Accident.

Another not-so-fun time is when your child wakes you up crying to tell you that they wet the bed. More cleanup duty for mom and this time it is urine-soaked linens. It’s a good thing washing linen isn’t that difficult. Seriously, when did I become the maid and laundress at 2 am, too! I honestly thank god that this stage is finally well behind us though here. If I never have to potty train another child, it will be too soon!

4. My Husband Snoring.

I used to dream of the day that I would share a bed with another that whom I was head over heels in love. But then came reality folks. My husband snores and it sounds like a freight train is going through our room some nights. Therefore I almost feel like that scene from My Cousin Vinny where he keeps getting awoken by a loud train at the same time every night. Don’t get me wrong, I love him. But not the snoring so much!

5. Husband Loudly Speaking That Your Child Is Up.

As if the child waking you up isn’t bad enough, now your husband needs to tell you that the child is awake and you need to move ASAP to do something about it. Seriously, this one burns my bridges sometimes and would love to physically assault him for this wake up call. Sorry, but I have anger issues when awoken this way!

Now, you probably have read this and thought what a horrible mother that she can’t muster up some sympathy for her sick children or loving husband. But seriously just once I would like to be left alone all night long, let to sleep in and be awoken with breakfast in bed. Ok, a girl can dream, but then again I am sure if this did happen I would still have to clean up the mess of dirty dishes in the kitchen!

So, better leave my dreams now and come back to reality. Maybe someday I will get to sleep all night again and past 7 am. Until then, I still have my memories!

Because I couldn’t resist, Joe Pesci in My Cousin Vinny.  I picked this scene, because this is how grumpy I can get without sleep!

* Plus, I have edited and updated this since it originally appeared here in March 2013. Why? I am linking it up with Kristi of Finding Ninee for this week’s Finish the Sentence Friday. The sentence to finish is, “When I can’t sleep, I…”

About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. erintheirishmama says

    Oh I was sooooo that person who needed sleep too. From a baby my mom would have to check and see if I was still alive!!!! I miss it so much. Sleeping til noon!!! Someday when we are 75 years old and blogging about how our ungrateful kids never call, our posts won't go out until 2pm because we slept in and it will be before our afternoon naps! Ha! Happy Sunday!!!!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Erin that was so me and even this morning I tried to sleep in a bit and my husband and my kids both woke me between 6:30 and 7. They all went back to bed and I laid in bed until about 7:30 now and finally just got up, because I wasn't falling back to sleep!! Someday I will get sleep again and probably just like you said if I make it to that point!! Happy Sunday to you, too!! 🙂

  2. Robin Rue says

    I miss sleep so much. I swear I have not gotten a full nights sleep in 8 years. I remember growing up, my dad would always wake me, my sister and brother up by saying "up and at 'em adam ant". EVERY MORNING.

    • Janine Huldie says

      So with you on this one Robin and seriously don not remember the last time I had 8 hours of sleep. Hell, I don't remember the last time I had 6 hours straight. Seriously hope someday more sleep is on the horizon for me, but until then I can dream!! Oh and isn't it funny the things you remember about this from when you were younger. Seriously, I can so still hear my own dad and his quirky wake ups, too!! 🙂

  3. Menopausalmother says

    Hi Janine!!! Oh I remember those sleep-deprived days well! Funny, when I was little, my mother woke me every morning with a loud, "RISE AND SHINE!!!" and to this day I cringe when I hear someone say it! The good news for you is that YES, one day you will get all the sleep you need…when the kids are grown and out of the house!!! Until then, hang in there, my friend! XOXO

    • Janine Huldie says

      Oh thanks Marcia for the hope of sleep someday in the future. I know what you mean about the cringing, because even writing my dad's words can of had that same effect on me, too!! Thanks seriously and XOXO right back at you 🙂

  4. Janine Huldie says

    Oh I always hate that nudge during the night. I will say Kevin is good with helping, but still cannot stand hearing those words during the night. I truly look forward to more sleep in the future though and your comment gave me just a bit of hope. Thanks Amy!! 🙂

  5. Stephanie @ Life, Un says

    Horrible mother, what??? I think every mother who can't relate is either blessed with a child that's never sick and loves to sleep 12 hours every night without waking once or is a clone between a masochist, Martha Stewart, and a good dose of Pinterest-perfection 🙂 I would like to add: Child with night terrors. That's a crying I didn't forget for a while. It took me quite some time to actually get through to her holding her, talking to her, kissing her. Poor baby went trough it after each move for about 3 months total, almost every night!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Stephanie, thank you and night terrors are the worst. I had them as a kid and my dad still will tell me every once in awhile how bad they were. I truly hope my girls have been spared from that one, but if they aren't am going to feel terrible that they have to be going through it.

  6. Cyndi says

    Hmm…all your stories make me think twice about motherhood. Hehehe. No, but you're still amazing and the stuff that you go through…whoa. That drawing by Chris is awesome stuff!! I hope you have a good Sunday. 🙂

    • Janine Huldie says

      Sorry Cyndi, trust me there are many good times to being a mother, but just can't help, but vent some of the less than wonderful moments here at times I suppose. But trust me being a mother does have many perks and is a blessed thing, too!! And by the way, Chris's drawing was perfect and am just totally honored that I was able to include it on this post!! Hope you too are having a great Sunday and thank you as always!! 🙂

  7. Justin K says

    The Missus and I have frequent discussions about this. In our house, it is the other way around. Mostly, I am the one who gets up in the night. I've always been a light sleeper and have become an even lighter sleeper since becoming a Dad. As I type this, it is 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday and my son and I have already been awake for an hour due to bad dreams. Apparently, blue monsters were trying to come through our door last night. They weren't the friendly kind of blue monsters either. Seriously, Janine, you aren't a horrible mother for wanting to sleep an entire night uninterrupted. And, you shouldn't have to wait for Mother's Day either.

    Justin- Writing Pad
    Dad
    Writing
    Pad Dad Blog
    Writing
    Pad Dad on Facebook

    • Janine Huldie says

      Oh thanks Justin and please know that my husband does get up with them, too. I think it is more the letting me know they are awake that gets me annoyed from time to time, but he does sometimes even sleep on their floor in their bedroom from a bad dream (I can't because I still go to the chiropractor for sciatica–whole other story). But many times we are both up and I guess I would like to sleep if he is already up, but then I would totally feel like a lousy mother. That said I know someday I will most likely miss this too, but just do miss sleep so much right now!! Thanks for letting me know I am not alone and we too had monsters here last Sunday night!!

  8. Lanaya @ Raising Rea says

    Hahahahahaha … that Joe Pesci is classic and I am SO right there with you. Brian snores too on occasion … especially if he's had a few and that makes for an unhappy me! Ugh! You know how I love my sleep … just like you!

    {I swear … separated at birth you and I!}

    Thank you for linking to Raising Imperfection.
    Please come back Friday to see if you were featured. 🙂

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo http://www.raising-reagan.com

    • Janine Huldie says

      Lanya, we definitely had to be separated at birth and seriously just love how much we do have in common. I am so with you on if Kevin has a drink or two snores even more. He will tell me (try to bust my chops right back) that I snore from time to time, but I don't sleep enough straight through to even think that is possible, lol!! Thanks agin for another wonderful linkup and so very happy to join as always!! 🙂 And hope your weekend has been good so far!! 🙂 xoxo!!

  9. Bill says

    You should have married a guy like me. 🙂 I was always the one who got up with my son. I loved rocking him back to sleep and spending those quiet times with him when it was just him and me….and now all I have are memories. 🙂

    • Janine Huldie says

      Oh Bill, Kevin does get up, but he will also let me know he is getting up, lol!! Somehow I think that just truly defeats the purpose, but hey that is just me. Great memories though you have and thank you for sharing with me!! 🙂

  11. Leslie says

    My snoring husband is the worse right now, I have visions of pillows over his head. If that doesn't make me an awful wife I don't know what would. LOL.

    Thanks for sharing your favorite post at Raising Imperfection! We feature our favorites on Friday, make sure to come back and check.
    Leslie

    • Janine Huldie says

      The snoring is totally the worst Leslie and you aren't alone with visions of smothering for that one. Guess that makes me an awful wife as well, lol!! Thanks as always for the awesome linkup and hope you are having a great weekend so far!! 🙂

  12. The Next Step says

    #5 pisses me off like nothing else. And it's not just during sleeping hours. We can be sitting next to each other, and one of the girls screams for something, and he turns to me and repeats what the screaming child needs. I just want to slap him!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Lori, totally right there with you and love getting told "Emma needs" "Lily needs" (insert whatever they do need at that moment) and he is literally right there and could easily do it himself. Seriously, couldn't get more lazy or annoying if you tried!!

  14. The Sadder But Wiser says

    All five PLUS-the cat laying under the bed and growling at the dog, the dog getting antsy to go out, and the husband's alarm going off 5000 times since he leaves for work at 4 am… I'm shocked I EVER sleep.

    • Janine Huldie says

      Michelle, you just answered why I won't get a dog yet, just another thing to add to the list of keeping me awake. And the snoring is the worst, isn't it!! Thanks seriously for sharing and letting me know it isn't just me!!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Lisa, again more ammunition on why I don't have a dog, but then again I guess blaming the farts and snoring on the dog for my husband would be a real trip, lol!! Thanks seriously, you always seem to have a way of putting it al in perspective and also making me smile, too!! 🙂

    • Janine Huldie says

      Thanks Alexa and shake my hand and then some on this. Seriously, I can't say enough how much the snoring and the crying both make me want to scream and yes physical harm sometimes truly does come to mind!!

  19. gigigirl says

    Lve the Cousin Vinny vignette…..a classic. You will get plenty of sleep once the girls are a little older…..at least I think so! Love you……zzzzzzzzzz

  20. Mod Mom Beyond Indie says

    Husband snoring. omg yes! I've thought about putting the pillow over his head. That would be bad, right? 😉 I love sleep so much that I overslept instead of opening up the hop this morning. It's Day 1 of Spring break, so the kids slept in too. There's a gentle snow falling outside my window and I'm all snuggled with my cup of coffee and the laptop. 🙂

    • Janine Huldie says

      Linda, so wish I could have slept in today, but I was actually having a bad dream last night and apparently so were the girls, because I got called into their room twice. Finally woke up to my husband's alarm clock at 6:40 and have been up ever since. Someday I will get sleep and there will be no snoring of any kind to interrupt me either!!

  21. Jessica Smock says

    I miss sleep. I miss sleep. I love sleep. I've been there with all of these too, except for the potty training. My son is almost two, and I'm dreading potty training. I'm also dreading moving into a toddler bed. Can't I keep him in diapers in his crib until college?

    • Janine Huldie says

      Lol, Jessica. Trust me the toddler bed actually worked better with both my girls. Neither were huge fans of the crib. And the potty training, I have stories believe me on that. And will say that just when you think you know how to deal, they throw you a curve ball!! And yes I love sleep and really do miss it, too!!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Camille, that was how it was here when I first had Lily. She was an awesome sleeper and Emma still hadn't been sleeping through the night. Now that they have been both pretty much sleeping through the night on a good night, I still don't. Need sleep retraining or something!!

  23. Christy Joy says

    Too funny! I'm familiar with your top 5 and I could add a few
    more:-)I try to remember that it won't always be this way and that when they're away at college I'll probably miss this! But it would be nice to get some uninterrupted sleep:-) thanks for linking up with HWC.

    Christy Joy
    #happywivesclub

  25. Break the Mom Mold says

    Well these can't be your top 5 favorite ways, cause non of them are (insert hot actor/singer here) waking you up gently….. Dude, motherhood. I've got nothing to say. I am typing next to my sound asleep 7yo in my bed because if I don't he'll be up until the mooooooos come home!

    Swinging by from I Don't Like Mondays!

    • Janine Huldie says

      Definitely not my favorite ways to be woken up and yes the hot/actor singer would be on another list, lol!! Oh and last night my 3 1/2 year old wouldn't go to sleep. I brought her in my bed and began to try to fall asleep, only to have her pulling my hair. When I opened my eyes to look at her, she was smiling and thought it was funny. Go figure!!

  26. Kristi R Campbell says

    Ok so I so get so much of this but when we were in Colorado over the holidays, OMG my husband snoring totally stole all of my sleep and I was beyond angry! Like, I wiggled the bed, rolled him over, all of it. I wondered why it didn’t bug me as much at home and came to realize it does here too but that I sleep better here??? UGH that one. I relate to the others too but OMG the hubs snoring. Gah.

    • Janine says

      Kristi, the snoring is the worst. I know what you mean though in my own bed can bother me, but not as much as when I am not in my own bed in all honesty, as well. Sorry you can relate though and yet am glad I am at the very least in good company! 😉

    • Janine says

      Aw, you and me both Seana as I am not known for my best timing either. And I seriously couldn’t resist with My Cousin Vinny’s clip here as seriously one of my favorites, too 🙂

  29. Ruchira Khanna says

    So–So-So–relate to the sleeping career as a teen.
    I would be regarded as a “Queen of Sleep” then!…LOL

    Times change so does the sleep pattern but I do look fwd to friday nights cause Saturday is one day I do not have to put the alarm clock to make me spring out of my bed 😉

    Loved those five factors of losing sleep, they are so geniune, J9

    Happy New Year!

  30. Dana says

    I was once woken up by a puking child, and a few times by a puking dog. That’s lots of fun!! One of the best things in life is waking up on my own, with no alarm, as nature intended. Too bad it doesn’t happen very often!

  31. Lisa @ The Meaning of Me says

    All true! Snoring husbands and husbands who announce that the children are awake are right up there with my favorites (not). I think my best wake-up is when the cats are playing in the middle of the night. They are so loud and yet no one hears them but me…hmm.

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