Good sleep is required for good mental health, but it can be very difficult for a parent of young children to get enough of it to function properly. Having family support in the parenting journey can make all the difference in the world!

Feeling blue? The scientific cure may also be my favourite thing in the whole world… sleep.

According to this New York Times article, if you get less than 6 hours of sleep a night (and what mum gets more than 6 hours a night?!), it can profoundly affect memory, learning, creativity, productivity and emotional stability, as well as your physical health.

Night Shift

Last night was pretty typical for me: Tyson (nearly 3) came in shortly after midnight announcing he’d wet the bed — a quick pj change and he was nestled in between us.

Shortly after, Jack (16 months) awoke and couldn’t be consoled. His prolific eczema, like sandpaper on his arms and legs, was itchy, itchy, itchy and no amount of cream was sorting that out.

So, he nuzzled into me and we achieved some sort of broken sleep, interrupted every half hour or so by groans of discomfort. In the morning, I cried out to the ceiling: ‘I’ve just finished the night shift and day shift is about to start’ … and off we went.

Topsy-Turvy

Nights like that explain why I found my keys in the fridge yesterday and why I’ve had this darned cough for over a month now.

Sweet, sweet sleep evades me, taunting me nightly.

The ‘all-conquering’ me hides in the shadows, behind sore gums, soaking wet nappies, skin irritations and night terrors.

I can’t wait until we meet again, old friend. I miss you.

___

Originally published at Mum Daily. Photo by Sarah Chai.