You know those days when your kids seem to be on a wild sugar rush, and you’re left looking like a zombie? Yeah, I had one of those today. So, I made the executive decision to put everyone to bed an hour earlier. Whether your usual bedtime is 5 p.m. or 7 p.m., there comes a point in every parent’s day when you just need to reclaim some peace and quiet. If you’re nodding your head, here are my top 20 reasons to justify that earlier bedtime for your little ones.
- You’re tired of hearing your own voice, but you can’t help but wonder if it’s even registering with the tiny humans.
- You’ve made so many empty threats today that even you’re starting to doubt your authority.
- The minute your partner walks through the door, you suddenly have an urgent need to tackle chores you absolutely loathe. Yard work? Sure, why not!
- You let your kids play with bright blue Kinetic sand, and now it’s like confetti all over your house.
- You glance at your cat, who’s staring blankly at you, and think, “You need a job.”
- You’ve declared a sugar ban for the children and pledged they’ll only consume celery and hummus tomorrow.
- By lunchtime, you’ve already consumed enough chocolate to fuel a small army because, well, you need your sugar fix.
- At 4 p.m., you catch a glimpse of your bed and instantly feel like you could trade anything for just a moment of peace there.
- You’ve actually considered boarding school for your three-year-old. After all, doesn’t it exist somewhere?
- At some point today, you’ve cleaned up bodily fluids from places that should never have encountered them, like your own clothes.
- Your partner gives you that look that says, “Help me!” while you silently respond with, “Uh, you caused this.”
- You’ve stepped on a Lego today, and you know that pain all too well.
- You’ve been forced into a fast food Playland, and you’re still recovering from the chaos.
- After so many high-pitched screams, you swear you can still hear them even when everything goes quiet.
- All three kids did this synchronized fake crying act, and you briefly thought about forming a choir.
- When you hear “Mom! He’s touching me!” it makes you want to laugh, then hide in a closet to rock yourself back to sanity.
- You find yourself folding laundry while half-watching an episode of Paw Patrol long after the kids have moved on.
- The word “mommy” now sends shivers down your spine whenever you hear it.
- Just the thought of escaping in your car, even to a deserted parking lot, feels like a dream come true. Silence!
- After wiping bottoms, brushing teeth, assisting with homework, and cleaning the kitchen multiple times, you’ve exercised more patience than a saint, so you definitely deserve some quiet time.
But here’s the thing: once they’re asleep, you’ll sneak in to tuck them in, and your heart will swell as you realize it wasn’t all that bad. So don’t feel guilty, my friend, as you gaze at their innocent sleeping faces. You’ve earned this!
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Summary
Putting your kids to bed earlier can be a welcome relief for exhausted parents. From the chaos of playtime to the demands of daily life, sometimes you just need that extra hour of quiet. Embracing an earlier bedtime can lead to a peaceful evening, giving you the well-deserved downtime you crave.