Real moms sometimes turn into angry bears when sleep deprived
This past Monday “the boy” was not feeling good. He slept alot. This wasn’t a bad thing — I had a migraine anyway. But that night around 1 a.m. ish? A completely different story — at least for Seth. He was up at least six times from 1 to 4 a.m. (In my sleepy haze I forgot exactly how many times. But I do know it was at least six.)
There were two requests for food, one question asked, a request on the dog’s behalf and, at one point, he wanted to discuss a dream he had– FROM LAST WEEK. I got out of my snuggly bed each time to step, fetch and tuck him back into bed. I forgot what he wanted the sixth time. But it was basically to socialize. At that point? No more Mrs. Nice Mom. I was tired, migraine-y and fed up. I told him, “For the love of all things holy, just GO TO SLEEP OR I WILL GET VERY ANGRY!” (I may or may not have yelled that last part.)
But Tuesday morning has been rough. And him jumping on the bed to wake me up? I may or may not have yelled at him again. But that’s the thing. Sleep deprivation does horrible things to a mom. The otherwise sunny and patient disposition is the first thing to go. The mom may LOOK normal on the outside, but inside? She’s turned into an angry, angry bear. And there really should be signs we can wear that say, “DON’T POKE THE BEAR! BACK AWAY FROM THE BEAR — JUST LET HER BE!”
(That’s without make-up, teeth brushed, face washed and in jammies – I know! Scarey!)
To see more REAL MOM truths, go here!





Alissa on 21 Mar 2007 at 2:06 am #
I remember telling Nicky one night “If you do not lay here and be quiet and leave me to sleep I will have to spank you, and I so don’t want to spank you right now. So GO TO SLEEP!” It made him cry, which made the whole thing worse.
Feel better. I hope you can get some rest soon.
Mayberry on 21 Mar 2007 at 2:17 am #
Oh, man. The “request on the dog’s behalf” would’ve made me totally lose it! Hope tonight is better.
Undercover Angel on 21 Mar 2007 at 2:22 am #
Hopefully he’ll sleep better tonight and you’ll be able to get some rest… I’m a real cranky bear if I don’t get enough quality sleep too…
ali on 21 Mar 2007 at 2:26 am #
i’m a total monster when i’m sleep deprived. monster.
Kristin on 21 Mar 2007 at 6:01 am #
NOT scary at all… you look about 12 years old - BRAT!
Get some sleep, honey… Benadryl for the child equals 12 hours for you.
5penny on 21 Mar 2007 at 7:34 am #
I gotta say for a grumpy unwashed mama bear you look pretty damn hott!
J actually calls me Mama Bear as in, “are you a nice mommy or a mama bear today?” I always say it depends on how many times I have to ask her to do something…
the answer seems to be 46.
Rawwrrrr!
Pendullum on 21 Mar 2007 at 1:21 pm #
Are you like one of the hottest blogger mommies out there?
I mean you look like you are just a teen, that with no sleep?
How about Duck tape?
I hear it works wonders for a talkative boy? HAHAHA…
Hope you can get some sleep…
and hope that blogger will not eat my comment this time…
Brown Eyed Girl on 21 Mar 2007 at 1:53 pm #
I’m not sure I could get to 6 times out of bed without raising my voice, gritting my teeth and flailing my arms about.
I might have lost it around 4.
Chris on 21 Mar 2007 at 1:56 pm #
Sweetie..if I could look like that with no make up and face not washed..I wouldn’t have to spend 1/2 hour doing just that every morning! Scary it is not!
I am very very cranky if I get woke up. I used to be really bad and have to apologize the next morning, now I’ve managed to remember to take a second before responding and listen to what they want. Before I just exploded.
Oh, The Joys on 21 Mar 2007 at 2:26 pm #
I’m so sorry about the lack of sleep and wish I could send you some.
I’m with everyone else - I wish I looked that HOTTY HOT when I rolled out of bed with no sleep. YOWZA!
reformattingmybrain on 21 Mar 2007 at 2:49 pm #
Hope you get sleep soon! And seriously - I agree with everyone else - lookin that good after all this! You are amazing!!
Jenn on 21 Mar 2007 at 3:21 pm #
Yikes, I remember the sleepless nights all too well. And I am SUPER cranky when operating on little to no sleep. I’m like a mama bear….with rabies.
Slackermommy on 21 Mar 2007 at 4:06 pm #
Damn girl! You’re still beautiful.
J at www.jellyjules.com on 21 Mar 2007 at 5:04 pm #
I’m just amazed that you made it through 6 times. You were SO patient!
Have you read “Bedtime for Frances”? Pick it up on your next library run. You and your son will both get a kick out of it.
Pattie on 21 Mar 2007 at 5:43 pm #
Ohhh…I sympathize. I am horrible to deal with when I don’t get my winks….however, that being said….I must say, I NEVER look that cute (or young) without makeup on!
Andrea on 21 Mar 2007 at 6:17 pm #
Scoff if you will, but you’re very pretty. I can only wish to look so good makeupless and sleep deprived, recovering from a migraine. You rock lady.
If I had any sleep answers, I would let you in on them, but my Resolve is still Gabe’s sucker.
Quinn on 21 Mar 2007 at 6:20 pm #
Sleep deprivation does horrible things to me, too. I think the only time I’ve ever really considered DIVORCE was at 4 a.m., after being woken up for the fifth time by the huzz’s snoring.
dodo on 21 Mar 2007 at 8:01 pm #
after six times you’re allowed to stop counting and say “up all night.” that’s the rule. hope you get an early one tonight
Lisa on 21 Mar 2007 at 8:07 pm #
I turn mean after 3 visits. And why do the husbands never hear any of this while they sleep?
You’re so cute!
karrie on 21 Mar 2007 at 8:35 pm #
Sleep deprivation is a bitch!
I agree with the others–you’re cute for being that tired and cranky.
Isabel on 21 Mar 2007 at 9:02 pm #
Sleep deprivation is not fun. Not fun at all.
Here’s hoping your week only gets better.
Mrs. Chicky on 22 Mar 2007 at 12:12 am #
You still look beautiful all sleep deprived and stuff.
And why did the husband-type person not get up with the kid during these awakenings? Hmmm?
Bon on 22 Mar 2007 at 1:02 am #
sleep deprivation needs to be outlawed. seriously.
mind you, you look grumpy…perhaps puffy…but dude, that’s better hair than i have on work days!
still, we all have different standards.
and the right to be bears.
mothergoosemouse on 22 Mar 2007 at 3:35 am #
I don’t look half that good after a full ten hours (and a shower and makeup).
But sleep deprivation is my personal hell. I can only take so much, and then I really start to lose my mind. You have my deepest sympathies.
Pink Herring on 22 Mar 2007 at 5:20 pm #
You look like I feel most mornings in that picture. Except… still pretty. Just tired pretty.
This truth holds for non-moms too. My boyfriend knows very very well to be extra nice to me when I haven’t slept… OR PAY THE PRICE. I don’t yell… I cry. Which is probably worse, from his perspective.
I can’t help but laugh at the requests on the dog’s behalf though. You have a little Doolittle on your hands.
carrie on 23 Mar 2007 at 8:19 am #
Oh Lisa, even with a migraine, you are bootiful!
Get some sleep. Follow the benadryl advice, it works!
Carrie
Grim Reality Girl on 23 Mar 2007 at 2:16 pm #
The migraine expression — know it well! May sleep heal you!
I remember being so sleep deprived when my kids were younger — I actually eplained it to them that Mommy is a more FUN Mommy when you let her sleep a little more…. oh yeah! Hubby is a morning person — they learned to jump on him in the AM
Becky on 23 Mar 2007 at 6:07 pm #
is he sleeping better yet? i’ve had that look on my face many a morning when i’ve not slept!
Lizard Eater on 26 Mar 2007 at 1:53 pm #
I can distinctly remember, when my son was 3 and his sister an infant, when he woke her up after what had already been a very wakeful night. I remember fantasizing about dropping him over the balcony …
Same son (now 10) came into our bedroom this morning, whining about some minor detail, and waking up his youngest sister, who had been brought to bed at 5 am.
“Real Moms Occasionally Want to Kill Their Children,” I thought, drowsily.
Virginia Belle on 17 Apr 2007 at 7:38 pm #
you are gorgeous, woman!!! seriously. i am not just saying that. i can only wish i looked that good when i wake up. look at that — you have NO circles under your eyes. no zits. your hair doesn’t even look greasy.
dang. i am envious.
crap. i’m gonna look rough when i have kids. because i am one CRANKY ASS BIZNATCH when i’m tired. add in a migraine? forget about it. i will murder my children.
crap. maybe it’s a good thing i have no marriage potential…it will keep me out of prison.
this post totally explains about 75% of the reasoning behind my mom yelling at all of us throughout our childhood. we used to look at each other and say, “dang, what’s her problem?” — um, we were probably doing exactly what Seth was doing. only there were 5 of us.
crap. my mom really must love us a lot. considering none of us were victims of childhood stab wounds.