Image courtesy of Microsoft/ Bing
Dear Tired Mommy
I see you there.
Awake in the early hours of the morning.
Your body so wracked with fatigue.
But you keep going.
You keep responding to your child.
This is what true love is.
An action. A verb. An act of love to serve.
To lose your own sleep to help your own child find rest.
**
But it doesn’t feel so noble.
You just feel tired.
You pray for sleep.
You bargain with God.
“Please just give me some rest.”
“Make this child sleep.”
Even though you’re convinced He has more pressing matters at hand.
And perhaps asking the same thing too often is the definition of insanity.
You crave sleep like a drug.
And on nights like these, where, for whatever reason…
Sickness, stuffy nose, sunburn, fever,
Or just plain no reason at all
You wonder if this relentless sleep deprivation will ever end
You think of all those moms whose kids sleep though
And you wonder why you child is not like that
In truth you are so tired it is hard to think straight these days.
***
The nights are long
And the day naps are falling away
Carving out time for yourself becomes an art
You spend time with your child
You involve him in the kitchen
You bring your book as he plays with his toys
But all the time a part of you whispers desperately
“When will he sleep?”
“When will I have that time I need to nourish myself?”
“Or will I just fall asleep myself?”
***
To the tired Mommy in the middle of the night:
You are not alone
There are many moms out there crying the same prayer
Desperate for rest, yet being there for their child.
Instead of crying it out – we wait it out.
For we know that this too shall pass
It seems inconceivable that there will be a time when he will sleep through
But it will happen one day
And then
You will remember fondly
Those nights you were there when he needed you
Instead of the sleep that you lost
Until then hold your little one close
And know
The work you are doing is important
Because one day when he hears someone crying
It will be his turn to care.
Because he learnt it from you.
Love this Heather!! I am one of those lucky momma’s, but I know some who need this word of encouragement. Thank you for letting these other tired mommas know they are not alone.
Thanks so much for the comment Rebekah!
Great poem, Heather! So true!
We also struggled with the sleeping, and still do…