I sit cross-legged beside her bed and dutifully wait for her to fall asleep. My head rests in my hands, heavy with all the worries of my day.
“Scuse me Mama,” she peers out from beneath her pink pillows, “Why doing with your head?”
“I’m just thinking.”
Satisfied with my reply, she rolls back over and within minutes falls deep into the land of slumber.
My own thoughts interrupt me, and I’m not asleep. My head is still heavy. Work, life, plans, to-do lists, stuff. Nothing major. Just lots of little thoughts weighing it down.
Eventually morning comes and I realise I slept. And best of all, so did she. As I rise to check on her in the room next door I notice that my head isn’t as heavy, and what seemed big yesterday seems like nothing much at all.
What keeps you awake at night? How do you get to sleep when you’re having one of those nights?
Hello Chantelle, I get woken up so early that usually I crash. But sometimes, I have been known to use a bit of melatonin to help me drop off. This is something you find out about when you have a child with an autism spectrum disorder- unexpected benefit (kidding!)
iPod on for some hypnotherapy. Or, I just get up and blog.
Sleep is golden.
xx
What interrupts my sleep? 99% of the time my drunken husband.
=(
I keep a pen and paper to write things in my head down before bed or during the night if I wake. I can worry about anything and everything sometimes. Reading also helps me settle.
I think a lot about what has to be done the next day. Or like you lots of little things keep me awake at night.
Sometimes my little one, but she is sleeping well atm.
I find having a little chuckle before bed helps, so i might watch something silly on the telly.
Or a warming glass of milk or chamomile tea.
Reading, always, it relaxes calms and distracts me from the thoughts keeping me awake.
Hi There,
I love to read your blog, I think you have such a great sense of humor and a talent for writing. It's fun to read about every day life from half way around the world!
Keep up the good work! Cheers!
Gosh, I hate when that happens! And that happens to me a lot! I hate that I can't sleep. What do I do?..Basically try to close my eyes and let sleep come to me. Eventually it does.
Love the new blog look by the way!!
Funnily enough, i don't over think things anymore – i used to, with Uni, but children seemed to calm me right down. I met my husband when i was a teenager & he'd say, in silence, “stop thinking, you make my brain go fuzzy” & he'd say the same when i'd be trying to get to sleep, “stop thinking, you're keeping me awake”.
Right now, i'm suffering insomnia, it's awful, with a husband away at war & 4 children in school, i've cut away all of my individual issues & worries to free up my brain space for them only, it's wonderful but i'm still trying to teach myself to relax & sleep. I'm doing Body Balance classes 5 times a week to help, it does, oh the neck strain it releases is amazing, love Posie
Beautiful post Chantelle. Funnily enough (or not) I had a blogging nightmare last night… so so strange but super frightening. I even had to wake Dave up to console me!
xo em
HI Chantelle
Yah finally worked out how to post…I think. Making sure I exercise that day is enough to get me to sleep everynight, but the mind has been ticking over madly since this blogging business! Note to self no computers before bed. A good book will do the trick.
I would lay awake thinking about a zillion things for hrs and hrs, I have memories since I was in primary school all the way until 2 years ago when I moved in with my boyfriend. Now we kiss goodnight and my mind turns off and goes to sleep. I guess it's learning to relax and I know that I can think all I want when I wake up the next day!
A normason and a glass of wine x
i generally have to get up because i'm a fidget bot in bed as it is but worse when my mind is whirling!
although the last week i've been going to bed super early as panic attacks have set in so curling up in a tight ball thinking of nothing important is helping 🙂 and cuddling up to my man is a huge help too xxx sleep well tonight x
I cannot survive without my iPod. Instead of sitting there, mulling over the days mundanities and worries and fears at 2am, I listen to a funny podcast. I don't have to get up, concentrate, turn the light on… nothing. Just lay there with my eyes closed and let something fill my mind.
I hope you find something that works soon xo
Ah yes. Such a relevant post for most working mums. There is often far too much going on in our heads, hey?
So cute that Lacey asked what you were thinking in her cute way. Aaaw.
As for me? I have my iPhone next to my bed to write down things I think I might forget in the morning (or things keeping me awake). But if I struggle to sleep, I listen to my breathing. Then usually I don't remember much after that. So I must fall asleep pretty quickly!
Must tell you, I made your two ingredient pizza base last night and it was FABULOUS! Also, I'm doing a 1 piece 5 days 5 ways challenge again. On a maxi dress. Thought you'd like to know!
xx
From one sleep deprived mamma to another…congratulations on an all nighter! I hope Lacey keeps it up for you!
I experienced a sleepless night the other night and ironically it coincided with a rare night of Amelie not only sleeping in her own bed but staying there all night.
I spent most of the night pondering the absurdity of the situation.
Kate
xx
I remember those days of falling asleep on the floor with my hand holding one of my children's hands as they lay in the cot. Then I progressed to sitting and reading next to the cot, then I got to reading in the doorway, then just outside the room…and then the next baby is born and I start again.
But know as you lay awake, sleep deprived, there is another mother out there doing the same, and we can then all ponder that they really do grow up and this will one day end.
And to get to sleep – music (Enya works), an old fave of a book (Pride and Prejudice because I love Mr Darcy), or just work on a really good daydream (I pretend I'm a female Bono).
and Posie is right about the exercise.
im sorry your head is so heavy with worry… i am happy to hear miss lacey slept in her own bed though… yay! call me if you need to chat! you know you always feel better once you tell someone, even when its not huge, bug stuff! rowe x
Currently, the list of stuff to do with Jovie's health is keeping me up. What helps? MAKING ANOTHER LIST.
I'm mad. But organised. ROFL.