Moms Stay Up Late Because It's The Only Quiet Time We Get

You’ve heard it too many times before, and you can testify it yourself – being a mom is NOT a piece of cake. It can actually be quite difficult at times. With so many responsibilities to shoulder and work hours that spill way beyond the drill of 9 to 5, being a mom at times can feel like being the president. You have to be constantly present to solve all problems – from fixing a meal for that fussy eater to changing nappies at night. And you can just never catch a break. Well, almost.

The good thing, though, is you can have the night to yourself. The downside to that? Your dazed and foggy brain won’t know how much sleep it’s able to squeeze in and will constantly crave some much-needed snooze time.

But hey, you win some and lose some, right? Sleeping early might fix your mood and help ease that postpartum depression. But when the night’s the only “me time” you get, it can become hard to sacrifice it. And trust me, I know. I’ve been there too.

Having experienced motherhood firsthand for quite a few years now, I can feel every cell in my body aching for sleep. Every morning I wake up, I just want to cram in that precious ‘5 minutes more’. And yet, I can’t help myself from staying up late at night. Even though I know sleeping early will do me good; there are quite a few reasons I choose to stay up late every single night.

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There’s something quite liberating about staying up when everybody else has tucked in for the night. It’s almost like magic! For starters, the pin-drop silence at midnight is delightful. You get the freedom to eat whatever you want, wear what you like, and do the things you actually want to do!

And the best of them all? No one’s going to ask you to do a single thing!

It’s the only time of the day when I can relish a hot meal without being called several times to do one thing or the other. Or sit back and relax with a good book, a movie, or even a TV show without getting interrupted or feeling those pangs of guilt.

Every single night that I stay up late and indulge in some me-time feels like a mini-vacation after a long day that almost always goes by in taking care of my home and the people who live in it.

We follow this daily nighttime ritual at my house. After we put the kids to bed, which is quite a task in itself, my hubby and I plant ourselves on the couch to catch up on our favorite TV show. We binge on some snacks and talk about our day. Since we don’t get too many date nights anymore, we use this part of the day to spend some time together without any distractions. And honestly, I can gladly sacrifice sleep for this!

Image: Shutterstock

In fact, I don’t even mind sacrificing a couple of extra hours after my husband goes to bed. Being the introvert that I am, I need some alone time. And the temptation at night to get some is far too great to deny!

I often end up unwinding and using the ungodly hours of the night to recharge my batteries and pursue my hobbies and interests. Knowing full well that I’m going to pay the price for it as soon as morning comes and a new day begins! But there’s just something irresistible about having a quiet house to yourself. And I’m sure you’ll agree with me on that – even if you’re the kind of mom who gets up way early each morning to do the same! I’m nocturnal, so for me, the night is always young.

Being a mother can often feel like living your life on survival mode. As we try our level best to fulfill our many responsibilities and fit into the multiple roles we ace so well; we have to grant ourselves mini-breaks whenever we find time for them. Even if that means staying up long after everyone else has gone to bed.

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