‘Last night, I was a straight-up grumpy a-hole to my kids at bedtime.’: Mom shares reminder ‘you’re allowed to feel overwhelmed’

“It’s not selfish to need some child-free time at night.

It’s self-preservation.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Because it makes me feel like less of an a-hole for getting frustrated with my three kids each of whom, from time to time, struggle with bedtime.

I’ve got one who fights falling asleep because it makes her tummy feel weird and like she wants to cry.

One who has trouble falling and staying asleep because her brain is consistently on overdrive and then she gets in her head about being in her head.

And one who, like clockwork, wakes up around 3 a.m. for anything from a bloody nose to a bad dream to just wanting Mommy to sleep with him.

So when it’s past 9:30 p.m. and not one of my children is asleep and I’m fully aware that I still have to help two more children get and stay down which will likely involve 20-minute interval interruptions of what I desire to be my Netflix binging time, I get witchy…with a capital B.

Tonight I’m doing better with it.

I’m more patient for whatever reason.

But I wasn’t last night.

I was a straight-up grumpy a-hole.

And I’ve got no other point with this rant other than to let any momma or dad who is grumpy a-hole bedtime parent tonight, know that it’ll be okay.

You’re allowed to feel frustrated.

You’re allowed to feel overwhelmed.

And it doesn’t make you ‘the worst’ if those emotions get the better of you sometimes.

Why?

Because 95% of the time your dear, sweet, energy-draining children get the real best of you, and that human is a rock and really f-ing selfless and amazing.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Nicole Merritt of Jthreenme. You can follow her on Facebook, her website, or podcast. Get her new book, Musings for Mom, here. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

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