To People Who Complain About Being Tired Without Kids
If I ever hear you whine about being soooo fatigued from all of your adult socializing and physical activity, I am going to come to your house and fight you.
But before we fight, can I just ask that you go easy on me? I’m really bagged.
In fact, can I take a nap at your house first? And then we’ll get right to fighting as soon as I wake up. Promise.
Zzzz.
This is by far the biggest adjustment to fatherhood that I still struggle with. It doesn’t matter what I eat, how much/little caffeine I consume, doesn’t matter how busy or relaxing a day I have had with my daughter, by the end of the night I am dead.
Deader than dead, more often than not.
I had some preparation for this stage in life by working dance competitions while I was the Technical Director of a theatre. 8 AM to 10 PM, dance music constantly throughout the day. I didn’t have to do much other than babysit to ensure the lights were on and the music was playing. The challenge was keeping your mind awake and not going insane by listening to the same song four times within a few hours (the Ukranian dance competitions were the worst).
Fatherhood is rather similar, except not only are you trying to keep your brain going by keeping track of your needs, but you’re keeping track of a smaller person’s needs, too. Then you add on physically demanding it can be lifting a child up many times in an hour, playing shepherd to your little sheep. On top of that, add screaming and tantrums.
I am going to be thrilled when my daughter is four/five and able to be a little more independent.
But, after a long nap, I will probably miss the hustle and bustle of the days I’m going through right now.
Mar 15, 2012 @ 20:42:36
My kids are 20 & 23, I’m still not sleepin’ and they are boys. Kids are great, wouldn’t change a thing. As far as sleep goes. Forget about it! ;^/
Mar 18, 2012 @ 15:47:28
I’m hoping since I have a girl and not two boys this won’t be the case with me. A man can dream, can he not?
Mar 18, 2012 @ 15:57:31
Oh yes! Dream away
Mar 16, 2012 @ 02:44:03
This cracked me up! We have 9 children, 3-24, still in diapers-newlywed. And when and if they are grown and out of the house I think I’m going to look back and say “how did you DO that?!” My husband said to me last night as I grabbed the keys when he walked in the door, “You sure have figured it out. Haven’t you?” The car is my escape! I’ll go veg at my mom’s once a week for an hour and offer to drive anyone anywhere at anytime! And I get up at 4am…it’s the only alone time I get to regroup. But it’s all good. I’m so blessed with a lot of company and entertainment built into my day that other people I know crave.
Thanks for the laugh!
Mar 18, 2012 @ 15:50:00
I don’t know how you’re managing to take care of that many kids. It’s one thing to do that in the old days when you could send them out to the field to tend the farm and animals, but in a modern world, I think the parents would go crazy. Kudos to you for keeping up with them all!