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Parenting Exhaustion
By Jen Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Blog
This same day, another person told me she was impressed with my "energy."
Wait a minute.
This contradiction seems raucously funny at the moment.
Perhaps because I've just spent Sunday-that biblical "day of rest"-counseling both sons in complicated matters, I started the week feeling anything but refreshed and full of vigor. In fact, my husband and I felt like we were swimming against the tide this past weekend. Every time we set out to work in the garden (actually a relaxing pastime in years long gone), they found us. By day's end Sunday, we had succeeded in washing exactly three screens and sweeping the patio.
But I know this is good. Talking is always good and best when spontaneous. This means that great chats come at seemingly "inconvenient" times, or when normal adults are asleep.
I admit that I get tired at, oh, 9:00 p.m., just when my kids are getting revved up. By 12:00 a.m. they're sprawled out on the sofa and eager for a heart-to-heart conversation about everything from the Civil War (seriously) to culture wars.
And so rest must wait as I energetically welcome the parenting exhaustion that comes with conversation with my kids. Yeah, the sleep deprived write all sorts of crazy things.
