Before becoming parents, most of us are blissfully unaware of the nightly struggle that is bedtime—especially with toddlers and young children. Sure, some may try to prepare you, but can anyone truly articulate the sheer agony of those final hours when all you want is for your kids to finally, just go. to. sleep? It’s the time when you yearn for a precious moment of peace to watch grown-up television or enjoy a snack without interruption. Those minutes feel like they stretch on forever, often leading you to believe that the ultimate test of patience is a toddler demanding “one more story” or “more water” for the hundredth time.
Now, with quarantine keeping us all under the same roof, that post-bedtime peace has become even more coveted and vital for our sanity. While it’s impossible to fully prepare for the nightly ordeal of wrangling little ones into their beds, once you’re in the thick of it, you quickly learn. But take heart—things do improve. As children grow and become more self-sufficient, the chaos of bedtime tends to lessen. At some point, you might even find yourself not caring as much if they stay up a little late, knowing that their resilience will carry them through the next day.
So, persevere, fellow parents! Rest assured that one day, they will sleep. They have to, right?
“Why is it that everyone else’s kids sleep fine while I’m here begging my 2-year-old to close their eyes at midnight?” I sigh, utterly exhausted and wishing for just one peaceful night without the bedtime drama.
Confessions of a Tired Parent
Confession #1: I count down the hours to my own bedtime all day long.
Confession #2: It’s 10 PM, and I’m pleading with my child to stop needing things. Can’t they just close their eyes?
Confession #3: At 39, I find that the desire for intimacy fades significantly by the time bedtime rolls around.
Confession #4: I thought bedtime was tough before self-isolation, but now it feels impossible. I need to take my child out to tire them out so we can have a normal routine again.
As parents of determined little beings who cling to us every waking moment, we have to find ways to survive this. Whether that means indulging in a little “mommy medicine” after they sleep or even abandoning the routine altogether—no judgment here!
Confession #5: I’m totally a “weed after bedtime” mom, and I stand by it!
Confession #6: My kids are currently napping late, which might affect bedtime, but I’m enjoying this rare moment of quiet.
Confession #7: I’ve stopped trying to enforce long nights with the baby and let him take the lead. It’s freeing!
Confession #8: Who cares if my kids have a strict bedtime? Homeschooling is on my terms; we can all sleep in, watch YouTube, and finish schoolwork in no time.
The real challenge arises when other family members—kids, spouses, or even in-laws—don’t grasp what “bedtime” actually entails, making you yearn for everyone to be on the same page.
“Am I the only one whose children hear the word ‘bedtime’ and suddenly turn into little monsters fighting each other?”
Confession #9: I wish my partner would assist with bedtime routines so they could understand why you can’t just walk into the toddler’s room and flip on a toy. Who ends up dealing with the awake kid who terrorizes tomorrow? Not them!
Confession #10: Even when my partner agrees to handle bedtime, I still find myself reminding my child to brush their teeth and put on pajamas before 10 PM. What do they think “bedtime” means?
We can all relate to those moments when we feel like we’re losing it. When despair starts creeping in, you wonder if your child will ever go to sleep and if this is just how life will forever be.
“My 2.6-year-old fights every nap and bedtime. I just laid with her for two hours while she resisted sleep. I’m at the end of my rope!”
Confession #11: My mother thinks I have great boundaries with my 21-month-old. She hasn’t seen me during bedtime when I’m this close to losing it. Why do kids resist sleep so much?
Confession #12: I’m a monster at bedtime.
You’ll do anything to get them to sleep—whatever it takes! I follow the same bedtime routine, but why does it work perfectly some nights and completely fails on others? Right now is one of those epic fails, and I’m about to lose my mind. Just sleep already!
Confession #13: I absolutely despise bedtime when they’re running around. Just GO TO SLEEP!
Confession #14: My 3-year-old is a bedtime terrorist. Same schedule, no naps, and the last two nights she refused to sleep until midnight. I just want a break!
Confession #15: Bedtime is a nightmare. It takes three hours to get these little rascals down, and they keep getting up!
But here’s the silver lining: they won’t be in this phase forever. One day, they won’t resist bedtime as much, and you might even find moments of joy together as you tuck them in.
“My 3-year-old recently told me, ‘You can go now! I’m not even sad about it.’ I love her to bits, but I’m so relieved she’s becoming more independent.”
Confession #16: I used to lay with my kids until they fell asleep, but then I walked out one night when they were messing around for an hour. They cried for a minute, and now bedtime is so much easier!
Confession #17: My daughter made me laugh so hard at bedtime that it took us 15 minutes to stop giggling long enough to read a story. I hope she remembers these moments as she grows up.
In conclusion, bedtime is undoubtedly one of the most challenging aspects of parenting, right up there with potty training and getting them to eat anything other than chicken nuggets. So hang in there, parents! You only have to go through this process approximately 987,000 times.
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