Tips for the Sleep Deprived Parent
By Rachel Shouse
Although going through the newborn phase of parenthood is difficult, it surely doesn't end there. Parents with older children have a different kind of struggle when it comes to sleep. A lot of parents have to lose sleep in order to work and provide opportunities for their children. There are ways to adjust your routine and remove unnecessary tasks though.
Losing Sleep Because of Work
Some parents work the first shift and some work the others. Regardless of the hours you work, there's probably something inconvenient at times about it. First shifters tend to be up earlier and have to be ready early as a result. This can really make late nights with a baby, child, or teen far more difficult.
The best way to tackle this, is to make sure you're setting a bedtime for yourself. It's important for you kids to get out and be active in their social lives. It's not healthy for you to be running yourself ragged though.
Sports and Other Extracurricular Activities
Sports are so great for kids. They learn so many lessons and those continue through all age groups. Allowing your children to participate in sports or other clubs and activities is a great way for them to start developing their own uniqueness and interests.
Be sure to not overwhelm your schedule or your child's. Their brains can get rather exhausted after a long day of school so adding practice and games might be a bit much for them as much as it would you. Just communicate these problems to your child if you feel adjustments are in order.
Adjust Your Routine
It can be hard going through different parenting seasons. Those veteran parents know how quickly life can change as their children grow. While toddlers are handfuls in their own way, older children can take up a larger chunk of time. Little ones get into everything and cause mayhem. A teen however can keep a parent awake for hours at night wondering when they're going to be home.
While most parents are going to go through this exact scenario, it's important to know how to handle these incidences. While it's up to you how to handle your children, remember to take care of yourself once everything's calmed down. A bath in the middle of the night surely couldn't hurt after the stress you endured.
As always, don't be afraid to reach out for help when you need it. If you feel like you don't have any help, think about joining a club or group to meet other parents in your phase of parenthood. There's a special bond that can be formed when people learn they can lean on each other when they need to unload.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Grand Prairie, Tex.