It’s nearly midnight, and my three little ones are sound asleep. Our dog is comfortably curled up at the foot of the bed, her tail occasionally wagging in her dreams. With my iPad resting on my lap and my partner peacefully snoozing beside me, I’m ready to hit “Play” on yet another episode of my latest binge-watch.
My eyelids feel like they have weights attached to them, and I’m undeniably worn out. The daily grind of juggling work, parenting, and a household leaves me almost comatose by 9 p.m. If I allow myself to fully recline, I’d be out cold before anyone could say, “Royal family.” So, why don’t I just surrender, close my tired eyes, and slip into dreamland?
Because most nights, my longing for “Me Time” outweighs the necessity for a full night’s sleep.
The blissful quiet of an empty house is my personal paradise. In this peaceful solitude, no one is demanding my attention, no one is crying or arguing, and no one is asking why I haven’t fixed their snack yet. This is my moment to recoup, reflect on the day, and immerse myself in a good book, a captivating series, or a relaxing shower. I cherish being the sole occupant of my home in the late hours, and it seems I’m not alone in this sentiment.
My mom friends and I often joke about sending each other texts at 1 a.m., all of us wide awake. Sometimes our minds are racing with the day’s responsibilities, but more often than not, we choose to stay up. We power through our days filled with work, volunteering, driving here and there, comforting our families, preparing meals, and managing the never-ending tasks of parenting. By the time everyone is tucked in, we are touched out, talked out, and ready to zone out alone. Sleep, no matter how inviting, rarely competes with the allure of some quality time with ourselves.
So, what do we moms do when the house is quiet and the clock strikes late? Here’s an inside look at our late-night activities:
- Scrolling through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
- Dreaming over Pinterest recipes we’ll never actually cook.
- Browsing home décor websites for that perfect rug.
- Filling shopping carts with luxury towels, face serums, and ultra-soft yoga pants but never clicking “buy.”
- Purchasing everything on Amazon Prime.
- Ordering groceries through Instacart because who actually has time for a grocery run?
- Getting everything else from Costco that we couldn’t find online.
- Catching up on our favorite family vlogs on YouTube.
- Watching oddly satisfying pimple-popping videos.
- Binge-watching not just one but two movies in a row.
- Losing track of time with a Netflix marathon.
- Folding laundry while engrossed in a show.
- Tuning into interesting podcasts.
- Enjoying a long, uninterrupted hot shower.
- Applying a face mask or peel without anyone questioning our beauty rituals.
- Relishing the fact that NO ONE is touching us.
- Diving into a beloved book or blog.
- Finally reading those saved Facebook posts.
- Glancing at that article about clean eating.
- Contemplating what it would be like to go vegan.
- Concluding that veganism is not for us.
- Indulging in all the non-vegan Girl Scout cookies.
- Sneaking in ice cream, secret chocolate, or potato chips without sharing.
- Making a list of dream vacation destinations.
- Compiling a to-do list for the next day.
- Sifting through 14,000 photos on our phones and reminiscing about how fast our kids are growing.
- Thinking about the fun of intimacy while being relieved our partners are sound asleep.
- Writing for pleasure.
- Crocheting a new project.
- Solving crossword puzzles.
- Texting with friends also awake, enjoying ice cream, and binge-watching their favorite shows.
As you can see, our version of paradise is a late-night solo pajama party. Forget the advice about getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep for optimal health; right now, I just want to be alone. I know I’ll feel tired in the morning and will probably complain about it, but a strong cup of coffee or a giant Diet Coke can easily remedy that.
One day, when the kids have grown and flown the nest, I may learn to embrace an earlier bedtime. Until then, I’ll remain wide awake past midnight, face mask on, watching just one more episode of my latest obsession. If you’re also navigating the world of motherhood, you might find helpful tips on pregnancy and home insemination at this excellent resource or explore this insightful post about at-home insemination kits. For more engaging content, check out this authority on the topic.
Summary
Moms often stay up late not just due to exhaustion but because the quiet of night offers a much-needed escape. In the stillness, they indulge in activities like binge-watching shows, scrolling social media, enjoying snacks, and engaging in hobbies, all while savoring some precious “Me Time.”