Hang in there, parents! These are just our tired years …
The other day, another mum said something to me that was a bit of a light bulb moment.
I was struggling to find my words as I chatted to her and my brain felt fuzzy.
“I’m sorry,” I told her. “I can’t even talk properly today. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“You’re OK,” she said reassuringly. “You are just really, really tired. These are our tired years. We have young kids. We’re not losing it. We are just effing exhausted.”
Yes we are.
So dear fellow tired parent, please remember …
It’s all understandable
When you accidentally fall asleep in the bed while spooning your toddler’s little body into yours because he couldn’t drift off without you, remember: these are just our tired years. You need all the incidental naps you can get.
When you put the milk away in the pantry and the cereal in the fridge, remember: these are just our tired years. You are not going insane.
When you don’t feel like having sex (again), remember. These are just our tired years. You love your partner but you chose sleep over intimacy, plus you may not feel that sexy at this point in time. It’s okay, you will again.
When you cry over your mother-in-law commenting that her grandson is “gaining lots of weight”, remember: these are just our tired years. You are hormonal and a little sensitive – she didn’t mean he’s overweight.
Please be kind to yourself
When you feel heavy in the head after a bad night with your teething baby and then have to go to work and function, while feeling guilty he’s in daycare, remember: these are just our tired years.
When you flick on ABC KIDS, even though you know they’ve had too much screen time today, remember: these are just our tired years. You are a good parent, but you need the break, and Bluey is a good babysitter.
When you need to take a deep breath, hands still on the steering wheel, before coming inside to see your exhausted, over-it partner and little loves, remember: these are just our tired years. You adore your family and they adore you. You are just burning the candle at both ends with work and home life and are trying to muster up some energy.
You are still you
When you look in the mirror and see a dishevelled version of your former self, remember: these are just our tired years. You are still in there. You are still you. You are just worn out.
When a little someone decides to start his day at 4:45 AM and you’re leaning over the kitchen bench waiting for the kettle to boil to make a coffee, remember: these are just our tired years. He won’t wake with the birds forever.
Our tired years might be our best
So yes, these are our tired years and they explain a hell of a lot about why we are the way we are at this point in time, but they also won’t last forever.
One day, when you have more energy again – because a little someone is no longer little and no longer needs you at night or during the day because he is at school, or, gulp, all grown up and has left home – you will miss these years.
These are the years spent singing your baby to sleep, forgetting there is a whole world outside because he is your world now. Or lying next to your preschooler in bed after story time and having her tell you she loves you more than the pretty rainbow fish. The one with the sparkly scales. Her favourite.
So, enjoy all the snuggly naps with your little loves as you accidentally crash from exhaustion next to them when they go to sleep. And when you feel like you are losing the plot? Remember: these are just our tired years … but they might also be our best.
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