surviving the tired days.

I'm currently curled up under a blanket with my laptop, caffeine coursing through my veins. Scarley's gone into a toddler bed, out of a cot- and switched rooms to boot, and she's not taking it well. My head is swamped with that hazy-sleep-deprived feeling that leaves you unable to do anything but consider what overprocessed carbohydrates might give you a hit of energy to shake the desperate tiredness.

What follows, then, is a guide of sorts to getting through those exhausted days relatively unscathed.

-First step. Look after you. For me this means dry shampoo, lip balm, and forcing myself to drink loads of water. I normally also keep containers of cut-up vegetables in the fridge for a quick, easy lunch {paired with some crackers and white bean dip}, but of course, I don't have any today, do I?

-Get the basics taken care of with your child/ren {breakfasted, dressed, clean faces and teeth} and whatever done in your house that you need to do to make it liveable for you. For me, it's beds made, curtains and windows opened, and breakfast mess tidied away. Now is not the time for rigorous cleaning.

-Make a little checklist {mental or otherwise} of low-effort, low-mess activitives your child/ren can do that day. Be realistic about what you can cope with. Some easy ideas: making pikelets, drawing, Lego, sending them outside to find butterflies/ladybugs/beetles, water play {either with a water tub or with measuring cups and plastic containers in the bath}, drape a sheet over your table for an instant cubby- just add pillows and blankets and books.

-Some slightly more adventurous activities: set up a simple obstacle course outside, paint fingernails and toenails, draw a road on the driveway with chalk, play a board game, make necklaces {with string, cereal, actual beads, or pasta}.

-Tell your child/ren that you are tired. Ask them to amuse themselves for a little while.

-Use the television. Put on a movie and give them a snack. There is no limit to how many Peppa Pig episodes you can tolerate in one day.

-Give yourself a snack, when you need it. A snack, a drink, and putting on some music {that you like, not a Playschool CD...unless that's your thing} can be oddly helpful.

-Lower your standards. Does it really matter if you still have a child in pj's at midday, eating instant noodle omelettes? Ahem. {If you're wondering, to make instant noodle omelettes, cook, drain, and cool instant noodles- I omit the sachet and just cook in a little Massel stock. Add in a lightly beaten egg or two, and cook in a pan until golden, then flip and cook the other side}.

-If you can, use your village. Ask, bribe, beg someone to take over for even an hour while you get some rest. If your child/ren are old enough to be bribed rewarded, give them tasks to do in exchange for stickers/stamps/pocket money/whatever.

-Do not underestimate the brilliant cleaning power of baby wipes. Ten minutes walking around with a few baby wipes, or even five minutes, and the house feels a lot fresher. {They're particularly satisfying to use on bathroom countertops and smudges/handprints on walls}.

-Remember that this will pass. It won't last forever.

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