If you’re a mother, you’ve likely faced the challenge of sleep deprivation at some point in your parenting journey. After caring for your little ones throughout the night, you muster the strength to rise before dawn, juggling multiple roles: mother, partner, employee, and homemaker. It’s truly remarkable that you make it through the day, and you deserve recognition akin to that of a superhero. However, in your exhausted state, you may find yourself having a few moments that are less than ideal. Here’s a list of 50 common experiences shared by sleep-deprived moms:
- Consume more than three cups of coffee before noon. (Your barista knows your order by heart.)
- Accidentally use breast milk or formula in your coffee instead of creamer.
- Rely on television as a temporary babysitter.
- Have cold pizza for breakfast and cereal for dinner.
- Skip showers, opting for a quick swipe of deodorant instead.
- Toss hair into a wet bun rather than properly styling it.
- Dodge cameras whenever someone attempts a photo with you.
- Wear yesterday’s makeup without a second thought.
- Borrow diapers, wipes, and clothing from anyone handy—friends, neighbors, or even lost and found.
- Nod off in unusual places or awkward positions.
- Discard kids’ clothes when stains become too overwhelming.
- Spend extra time on the toilet just to enjoy a moment of solitude.
- Chew gum as a substitute for brushing your teeth.
- Drop the kids off at daycare and take a nap in the parking lot.
- Form instant connections with fellow exhausted moms.
- Get lost on familiar routes, despite having driven them countless times.
- Use your car as a makeshift trash can and storage space for kids’ items.
- Skip shaving regularly, except perhaps for special occasions.
- Occasionally lock your keys or children in the car.
- Postpone dog walking repeatedly.
- Avoid checking the mailbox to escape bill anxiety.
- Let mail pile up until it’s returned to the post office.
- Lose track of what day it is.
- Feel envy towards those who appear well-rested.
- Appreciate anyone who offers to watch your kids while you recharge.
- Listen to your children’s music in the car even when they’re not present.
- Use your partner’s toothbrush because yours is nowhere to be found.
- Read the same paragraph repeatedly before giving up on your book.
- Forget groceries or baby bottles in the car until a foul odor arises.
- Start drinking alcohol at 4 p.m. to cope with the evening rush.
- Anticipate your children’s naps and bedtimes all day long.
- Make appointments for yourself only to forget them.
- Celebrate when plans get canceled, giving you a chance to rest.
- Go to the grocery store and leave without the items you needed.
- Prefer online shopping. (Thank you, Amazon Prime, for easing the burden!)
- Tell yourself, “One day I will sleep again,” or “Tomorrow will be the day I exercise.”
- Darken your hair color to reduce maintenance.
- Forget if you’ve fed your pet, leading to overfeeding.
- Question whether you locked the garage or turned off appliances, causing you to double back.
- Live in yoga pants, sometimes even wearing them inside out.
- Confuse personal care items with oral hygiene products.
- Allow laundry to sit in the washer until it becomes odorous, then wash it again.
- Bump into furniture, accumulating unexplained bruises.
- Have emotional moments in public, exposing your vulnerability.
- Experience minor accidents like hitting the garage door or fender benders.
- Buy disposable plates and cups to avoid washing dishes.
- Laugh at things that aren’t funny, questioning your sanity.
- Plan elaborate meals, buy the ingredients, and watch them spoil.
- Wish your partner could breastfeed for a change.
- Long for the days when you felt more in control and wonder if they will return.
If you relate to any of these points, you’re likely a sleep-deprived mom. Welcome to the community! Membership is complimentary and likely to last for the next 18 years. For more insights and resources on home insemination, check out this article or explore Make a Mom for expert advice on home insemination kits. Additionally, Science Daily offers an excellent resource for understanding pregnancy and fertility.