Why I Can’t Just Go to Bed

Get Pregnant Fast

Updated: November 16, 2023

Originally Published: November 16, 2016

For what feels like an eternity, I’ve been in a state of constant exhaustion—perhaps around a decade now. Honestly, I’ve lost track of the years. Like many parents, I find myself navigating life in a fog of sleep deprivation. It’s astonishing how we manage to keep it together, isn’t it?

When our kids were newborns, we were so tired because babies don’t care about our need for sleep; they operate on their own schedule. We naively think, “Once the baby starts sleeping through the night, I’ll finally feel rested.” Fast forward to now—my youngest is 4 years old, and I’m still waiting for that refreshing sleep to kick in.

By 6:30 PM, I’m already yawning, but a mountain of tasks looms over me—dinner prep, cleaning up, homework help, baths, and the bedtime routine—leaving me no option but to power through. I push through the fatigue, but by the time the kids are finally settled, the dark circles under my eyes could probably have their own zip code. “Just go to bed,” my husband says, effortlessly slipping under the covers and snoring within minutes. Oh, how I envy his ability to simply “just” go to bed, turning off his brain like a light switch while my mind races with a never-ending to-do list.

Every evening, I promise myself that tonight will be the night I actually get some decent rest. Yet, as soon as I start heading toward the bedroom, a whole series of distractions derail my plans. It usually goes something like this:

• I ascend the stairs, but wait—did I lock the front door? Back down I go.
• Passing the bathroom, I notice a pile of clothes I neglected while collecting laundry (because obviously, my family prefers the floor to the hamper). I gather them up.
• As I toss the clothes into the laundry room, I spot my son’s favorite T-shirt and realize he’ll need it tomorrow, so I start a load.
• I remember the dog’s water bowl is empty and refill it.
• What’s that smell? Oh, right—the trash. I can’t leave that stench greeting me in the morning, so I take it out and replace the bag.
• While I’m at it, I recall we’re running low on trash bags, so I grab my grocery list. What else did I need? Ah yes, hairspray.
• Suddenly, it hits me—there’s a canned food drive at school tomorrow. I rummage through the pantry to find cans of food and stuff them into backpacks.
• Checking the backpacks reminds me to sign my son’s homework folder, so I do that too.
• As I put the backpacks by the door, I remember I intended to check the locks, which is why I came downstairs in the first place. Okay, now I’m going to bed for real.
• But wait…did I lock the back door?
• On my way to check, I trip over a lone shoe and realize I should find its mate to avoid a morning scramble. Why can’t they just put them away?
• In the quest for the missing shoe, I step on something sticky. Great. I head to get paper towels and remember I need a new roll, which is in the laundry room. While I’m there, I see the wash cycle has only 10 minutes left. I decide to keep myself occupied until then because I am definitely going to bed.
• I clean the sticky mess and think, “Why not unload the dishwasher while I wait?”
• While in the kitchen, I might as well pack the kids’ lunches for the next day. The washer buzzes, but I finish my task.
• When I go to put the clothes in the dryer, I discover another load has been sitting there, wrinkling. I can’t let that happen, especially since I spot my husband’s work shirt.
• After folding, I figure I might as well lay out the kids’ clothes for school.
• Finally, I genuinely think about going to bed.
• Of course, I must brush my teeth, wash my face, and apply wrinkle cream to wake up looking fresh—oh, the irony!

What’s worse is that even though I’m exhausted, I often find myself wide awake once my head hits the pillow. I tell myself, “I’ll just check my email quickly,” which spirals into a rabbit hole of Pinterest, Facebook, and even quizzes like “Which Game of Thrones Character Are You?” Meanwhile, my husband snores loudly beside me, making it even harder to drift off.

Just when I think all is quiet, I remember we received a notice from the cable company about a late payment. Shouldn’t I check that too?

For more insights into parenting and the struggles we face, check out this other blog post. If you’re interested in at-home insemination options, a reputable retailer is Cryobaby, where you can find quality kits. Additionally, for a thorough understanding of procedures like intrauterine insemination, visit NHS’s excellent resource.

In summary, the quest for sleep as a parent often feels impossible. Between the endless to-do lists, sudden tasks, and nighttime distractions, turning off the day and actually “just” going to bed is a challenge that many of us know all too well.