By Aliette Silva 
It starts with putting her children to bed.
She will doze off in their bed, snuggled close to her beloved little ones.
She will wake up in about 20 to 30 minutes.
Her body is on a timer.
Her body knows she must get up because there is still work that needs to be done. She wipes her eyes, stretches her back, and her night shift begins.
She begins to put the house to bed.
She will wash the remaining dishes.
She will clean the stovetop.
She will wipe down the dinner table.
She will prepare lunch for the next day.
She will remember to defrost the chicken for tomorrow’s dinner.
She will put the clothes in the dryer.
She will put the laundry away.
She will search for the sock that has been missing for a week.
She will send that email to her child’s teacher.
She will reply to a few text messages.
She will remember she needs to fix the button on that shirt.
She will remember she needs to look up that phone number so she can call the doctor’s office the next day.
She will take out the trash.
She will clean the mud off her daughter’s favorite pair of shoes.
She will mentally check off item after item as “done” as she walks in endless circles around her home.
She will make a list of what needs to be done the next day.
She will finally feel as though her “house” is ready for bed.
She will get herself ready for bed.
She will try to fall asleep, but she will remember one more thing she forgot to do.
She will get up and do it.
She will go back to bed.
She will think of everything she has to do tomorrow as she tries to fall asleep.
She will remember that one thing she absolutely cannot forget to do tomorrow and will set a reminder on her phone.
She will look up on Google what that weird spot is on her body, her child’s body, her husband’s body, or the dog’s body.
She will scare herself awake with the results.
She will mentally try to relax by scrolling social media.
She will be surprised when her phone hits her in the face.
She will know she is now tired enough to actually fall asleep.
Her house has been put to bed, and so has she.
She smiles because she is grateful for all that she has.
Originally published on The Today Parenting Team
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