In our house, we sometimes play what I like to call Musical Beds at night.
Never heard of it? Lucky you.
On most evenings, we all start off in our respective beds – until the first child wakes and comes into our bed. This is mostly fine – until the next child wakes and does the same thing, at which point it starts to get a little cramped.
Four in a bed is a little squishy, so one adult will usually leave, moving into one of the children’s beds. Which is all well and good for a while – until one of the children will wake again and follow the parent who left into whatever room and bed they are in now – and on and on it can go.
Sounds like a fun game? Then parenting might just be the thing for you.
This video that American mum-of-three, Melanie Darnell, recently posted to her Instagram page illustrates this nighttime parenting so perfectly. Because guys, sometimes motherhood doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Just take a look:
This is what Darnell said of her night:
“Parenting doesn’t end when the sun goes down. ? I want to parent at night the same way I parent during the day. You have two nighttime parenting goals (1) get sufficient rest yourself and (2) meet the nutritional and emotional needs of your child. It’s a tough balance. Realizing that the last sweet hours of restful darkness are almost over. The 4am wake-up call is especially excruciating. Still, we haul ourselves out of bed, and with bleary eyes pull our babies in close
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In those quiet, dark hours, the lack of distraction can actually quite calming and refreshing. Baby’s needs tend to be simple: to be held and fed ??. Mothers are experts at both of those things, and the ability to so completely meet the needs of our amazing baby is profoundly satisfying. During these moments let’s think of all of the other parents that are up with their babies at the very same middle-of-the night moment and take comfort in the thought of each of us cradling our babies in the dark of our homes, together in shared experience. Rather than feeling isolated and exhausted, we can feel connected to the other tired mothers that are also awake #momsunited.
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So, to all of the tired mothers out there, breathe in and breathe out. These days are intense but short lived. Both you and baby will be sleeping more soundly before long. For now, cuddle your babies, nurse them and love them no matter what time the clock says. The baby you rock tonight someday may have the opportunity to be gazing at the stars while holding a sweet baby of her own. She will be thinking of, and appreciating, you ❤️.”
