I work all day, come home exhausted, and all I want is some quiet to breathe. So, without thinking twice, I hand my phone to my son. He sits on the couch, loses himself in videos and games, and I finish things or just rest for a while.
But lately, I’ve noticed that something isn’t right. He has a really hard time falling asleep at night. He tosses and turns in bed, restless, and in the morning he’s in a bad mood.
I know that screens aren’t the best thing to do before bed, but when I’m so tired, it seems like the easiest solution. Sometimes I feel trapped between my tiredness and what I know is best for him. I want to change this, but I don’t know where to start. I just want to do the right thing as a mom, even though sometimes I feel like I don’t have the strength
Oh wow, I feel you 100%. It’s like this impossible balance between surviving the day and trying to do what’s best for our kids. You’re not alone in this, I’ve handed over my phone more times than I can count just to get a breather. It’s hard
Girl, my kid once learned the theme song to every cartoon on YouTube before I even realized what was happening. The bedtime battles got real. I was so tired I just let it ride for months until the meltdowns started. We’re all doing what we can to make it through!
As a mom of teens now, I remember those days well. I used to feel the same way, but I promise it gets easier. What worked for us was setting up a bin of “quiet time” toys, stuff like coloring books or Lego sets. It gave them something to do, and I got my moment to breathe hang in there; you’re doing great
It might help to set up a consistent bedtime routine that’s super predictable for him. Screens off 30 minutes before bed, a bath or warm washcloth to signal wind-down time, and then a story together. The consistency helps their bodies know it’s time to rest. It’s tough at first, but I swear by it now
I know exactly what you mean about feeling stuck. It’s like you’re trading one problem for another, and neither feels like the right choice. Parenting is so hard sometimes
I’ve been there too. My 7 year old used to struggle with sleep, and it turned out that even a little screen time close to bed was overstimulating. What helped us was making a “screen-free hour” rule before bedtime. We replaced it with reading or calm activities like puzzles. It wasn’t easy at first, but after a few weeks, it really helped with sleep and mood
You’re already doing the best thing by wanting to make a change. That says a lot about you as a mom! Small steps are the way to go, maybe just start with 15 minutes of quiet time before bed without screens and build from there. You’ve got this!
Thank you so much for all the replies. It’s honestly a relief to know I’m not alone in this. I’m going to try cutting screens before bedtime and maybe start with a short story together. I know it’ll be an adjustment for both of us, but I’m feeling a little more hopeful about it now. Thank you all for the encouragement!
My 4 year old also struggles to wind down after screen time, but I’m stuck trying to figure out what’s realistic for us. How do you think your son would handle an activity like drawing instead?
One thing that worked wonders for us was a gradual wind down routine. After dinner, we dimmed the lights, turned off screens, and put on relaxing music. It helped my kid’s body get ready for sleep naturally. Maybe give it a shot?
It might help to set up a consistent bedtime routine that’s super predictable for him. Screens off 30 minutes before bed, a bath or warm washcloth to signal wind-down time, and then a story together. The consistency helps their bodies know it’s time to rest. It’s tough at first, but I swear by it now