Feeling wrecked? Turns out, lack of sleep can have a major impact on our parenting style

For me, and I am sure so many of you will agree, the hours between my kids going to bed and me going to bed myself, are precious.

Especially so these days, when we are all more or less on top of each other around the clock. My main problem? I am forever trying to squeeze five-six hours worth of stuff into that little 2-3 hour slot between their bedtime and my own – because, let's face it, when else are you meant to get the laundry done, clean the kitchen, do a face mask, chat to your partner, catch up on the latest Netflix show everyone is talking about, tidy the bedroom drawers, read the book your book club is on now, update your LinkedIn and Facetime your mum? Sounds familiar? I know. The result? My own bedtime gets pushed back and back, just to get everything I need to do done. And I know I am not alone. However, this lack of sleep is not only messing with our moods and energy levels, mamas. Now a new study has also shown exactly how important it is to prioritize sleep: It may actually affect what kind of parent you are.

The study specifically examined the relationship between sleep and "permissive parenting," or the tendency to be inconsistent with discipline and have few guidelines and rules. Researchers examined the sleep patterns of 234 mothers and found that those who slept better and longer were less likely to have a permissive parenting style than those who didn't get enough sleep. "It may be that they're more irritable, experiencing impaired attention, or so overtired that they are less consistent in their parenting," explains researcher Kelly Tu. "But on the plus side, we also find that mothers who are receiving adequate sleep are less likely to be permissive with their adolescents." So you see, mama, it's time we all started prioritizing our sleep – it seems the whole family will benefit from it.