After weeks of beautiful and busy family events, fun in the sun, late nights, too many adult lemonades, and lots of BBQ, I think that my body is ready for cold weather hibernation. There apparently is not enough hot or iced coffee in the world to revive me from this sleep deprivation state of mind.
Sleep fairy, where are you to sprinkle your magical and peaceful lavender scented powders so I can have all the energy I dream of to soak up all the sun and all of the fleeting baby fun?
I am at the point where once 5:00 rolls around, I literally think my eye balls are going to pop out of my head from the pressure of my over-tired and over-worked brain trying to rapidly evict itself from my skull.
Clearly, my brain wants a vacation, but it is not on the schedule.
Summer time forces us to put our lives into hyper-speed and do all the things we dreamed of doing all winter long. Weddings, parties, birthdays, and family time are tough to balance when the summer weekends are so short and our to do list is so big.
After we purchased our home and had a baby two weeks later, I don’t think that our life has slowed down. I knew this would be my reality and I love every ounce of the happiness that we have had since Charlie arrived, but holy moly, where the heck did my brain go?!
I have become that mom who leaves her coffee and carton of eggs on top of the car after getting the baby buckled. I’ve branded myself the traveling Sherpa because I am always hauling at least three large bags. (Sleep fairy, can you please deliver a masseuse when you arrive as well?) Another name I call myself is Leopard because I have acquired bruises that resemble black spots from constantly banging my limbs on things as I attempt and fail to carry handfuls of items at once. UGH. Clearly my body and my mind want me to slow down, but the summer days are too short and too beautiful, so I push through and dig myself deeper into a dark sand-filled hole.
I am extremely lucky to stay at home with Charlie while my husband works endless and long hours providing for our family. I can see the exhaustion in my husband’s face and know that he is just as tired as I am and that we are both failing to put our basic needs first because summer is too short and we’ve got too much to do.
Lately, the best thing that I have taken full advantage of to relieve my constant mama and house CEO work load is to get help from family and friends when it is offered. I am past trying to be the stoic and humble mom who can do a million things at once. There is absolutely no point in trying to be a 24/7 super parent. It’s literally not possible. For me the most amazing remedy for my exhaustion has been to swim. I’m not talking about ditching the babe with someone and swimming like I’m Michael Phelps, but just taking the time to embrace the cool and comforting full body hug the water is always willing to give.
I know that this sleep deprivation phase will pass and I will rejoin the normal human being club again soon, but man do I miss sleeping in past 5:30 a.m. and not feeling like a neurotic, schedule-wielding, drill sargent from the moment I wake up until the moment I fall asleep.
I hope this post helps you to remember that we are all human beings and that we need to make sure that we slow down and enjoy the summer before fall arrives and adds a whole new list of demands.
Until then, check out this awesome and helpful family and friends on how to get the best sleep while on summer vacation with your little ones.
