This post is part of my Not a Perfect Parent Series.

You might have seen on my Facebook page that I have partnered with Aveeno to participate in the #AveenoDailyChallenge for the next three weeks.  I was given the option of eating healthier, staying better hydrated, or de-stressing/meditating.

Despite the fact that I don’t really enjoy vegetables, I think I eat pretty healthy so I didn’t opt for the ‘eating healthier’ challenge.

I already drink a TON of water everyday so I didn’t opt for the ‘staying better hydrated’ challenge either.

What I was left with and what I really want to work on is de-stressing/meditation.

I think one reason I may get very stressed, besides just from being a parent, is that I don’t get a lot of sleep.  I started experiencing a lack of getting tired when I started going through menopause about 6 years ago.  I have since been diagnosed with insomnia and it is very difficult for me to fall asleep and to stay asleep.  I don’t lay in bed and think about things like bills or what’s on the schedule for tomorrow, it’s just that I don’t feel tired.  I mean, I FEEL tired and I just don’t want to think anymore, but my body doesn’t want to go to sleep.   In hopes of naturally conquering the insomnia, I’ve revised my bedtime routine to include white noise, listening to soothing music (the Spa channel on Sirius XM is great!), reading, a warm bath, sometimes I’ll exercise close to bedtime to see if that makes me feel tired, but none of these things lull me to sleep.  I just don’t get sleepy tired.  BUT my mind is exhausted and I’m useless by about 3am.   I either take something to help me sleep or I don’t sleep.

Does this sound familiar to you?

The upsides of not sleeping are that I get a lot done at night and as strange as it sounds I usually don’t feel tired for the next day even if I didn’t sleep.   It’s an interesting phenomenon really.  This has been happening for six years and you would very seldom see me yawn or complain about being tired.  Mentally tired, maybe but not sleepy tired.  I’m not one who looks forward to going to sleep and have often thought that sleep in a waste of time.  Since learning how important getting a good night’s sleep is though, I am trying very hard to change my thoughts on sleep being a waste of time.

The point is.. I hope that by practicing meditation, which I am doing as part of Aveeno’s #AveenoDailyChallenge program, my body will relax enough so that I can fall asleep naturally and be generally less stressed.

I can’t help but think that my stress level plays a part in my insomnia.  How can my mind and body relax when I’m so stressed even if I don’t feel stressed once I’m in bed?

I am the first to admit that I get stressed and worry, a lot.  This is not something I am proud of or think is because I have a more difficult life than other parents.   I never intended on being a mom who was on the go all of the time.  I didn’t want to be busy busy busy.   BUT, I have to allow my kids to participate in at least once after-school activity/sport each.  It happens to work out so that my son participates in two things which between the two take place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and my daughter does two things which between the two, have her doing something after school every Monday, Wednesday and then on Saturday.   That leaves us with Friday to catch up on life, chores, play, and general family hangout time.

Then there are times when I get upset with myself for allowing myself to get stressed and worried when I have kids who are so happy and great!

Here are a few things I worry about

• I worry about the kids getting hurt doing everyday things like going up and down stairs or walking outside without shoes on
• I worry if I am going to have a nightmare that night
• I worry about what’s on the schedule for the next day
• I worry about how I am going to get both kids to their sports games that are at the same time on Saturday but two different places an hour away from each other
• I worry about if the puppy eating enough
• I worry about if there is laundry piling up in the laundry room
• Did the dishwasher get emptied so dinner dishes can be put right in or are the dishes going to stack up?
• Will my daughter be up too late on a school night because of my son’s lacrosse practice?
• Is my daughter’s sniffle going to turn into a sinus infection?
• Why does my son’s room look like a clothing store vomited it’s merchandise onto his floor and bed?
• When is the right time to have him clean his room.. it seems like we’re gone all of the time.
• Am I giving my daughter and son enough individual attention?
• Am I paying enough attention to their homework and studies?
• ..The list goes on.

Does your worry list look like this?

What kinds of things do you worry about?

See how myself and 59 other bloggers are committing to the #AveenoDailyChallenge here. 

Stay tuned here and on my Facebook page as I embark on this journey to de-stress!