7 Comments
User's avatar
Menopause & Misogyny's avatar

Mine are teens now and it feels one million times easier. Those early days were reflux-y and consisted of so little sleep, and resulted in anxiety and depression and rage and resentment at my husband. In short, I hear you and thank you for writing this. I’m so much a nicer person with sleep too. 💕

Expand full comment
Allison Hiltz's avatar

I think the rage that comes from exhaustion is a lot more common than we think because we've been conditioned to feel shame around anything other than joy and gratitude in the postpartum phase.

Sure, we can complain a little bit but we're supposed to do it with a smile.

I'm glad you're on the other side of it and that I can see the light at the tunnel!

Expand full comment
Menopause & Misogyny's avatar

Yes, absolutely! I couldn’t even acknowledge my rage at the time. In fact not until a few years ago. So I extra appreciate mothers still in it that are speaking about it. It would have made a huge difference to me to know I wasn’t alone.

All the best for continued and consistent sleep 😴

Expand full comment
Career mom's avatar

What a relatable post on the realities of motherhood.

Recently, I am also sleeping better and I see how this positively impacts mood, energy levels, and parenting style.

Expand full comment
Allison Hiltz's avatar

It's a total game changer! Ironically enough, my son's emotion of the week this week is rage so it's a nice reminder for why I need to sleep.

Expand full comment
Wendy Chen's avatar

My daughter definitely steals my pillow. We both co-sleep on a king size bed but she literally sleeps on my side, on my pillow, leaving me a tiny sliver to lay on right on the edge of the bed. Usually i just push her over to her side when she's already asleep. I guess it's her way of wanting to be closer to me at night. I get it.

Somehow it's less annoying than when my stbx tries to scooch closer to me and leaves me a sliver of space to sleep on. That invokes rage in me and I sometimes yell at him to get off me I can't breathe.

Expand full comment
Allison Hiltz's avatar

That's exactly what mine does! Big bed. Tiny sliver. And then I wake up with a sore hip. Still better than a spouse, though. One of those is adorable. 😂

Expand full comment