aside from all the excellent advice

I totally agree with Lapis btw and the others that share that view.
BUT having raised 3 kids of my own, plus having 7 more as babysat for
almost a decade of my life in past,
I can definitely relate to run down and need sleep.

First off get committed to a schedule,, I mean COMMITTED!
breaskfast at 6/7, snack at 10, lunch at 12-1230,
NAP FOR EVERYONE! at 130-300 period, (1/2 hour is for to unwind)
so youget a full hour.
If kids are young, then take them in your room on a floor matress,
and separate them between floor space if have to.
if they cannot sleep, they must at least be quiet so that others can.
No tv on, etc..
300 mid afternoon snack, and dinner at 600.
baths at 800 in bed at 900/930

When your spouse or partner gets home,
then ask them to relieve you if need for a shower private time,
and also to help do dishes maybe so dinner time will be easier.

Preferably a nice hot bathe and a cup of warm tea about 45 minutes before you
go to sleep will reduce your stress greatly.

the mind is powerful..
don't worry thinking oh no I cant sleep !
then you won't get to sleep..
your own words hav eset your body up to give you
what you have said *icant sleep without meds*

How about: my body knows how to sleep well and fine,
and will fall asleep and rebalance when I give it
the environment to do so.
I don't know if you take stimulants like sodas, cofees teas/brown,
or alcohol .. but all of these are stimualants
and can affect you for up to 10 hrs!

undigested food can hinder sleep.
eat last food by 3 hours before sleeping.
if you wake up at night and honestly cannot sleep,
try to rest quietly and focus on deep breathing relaxedly.

learn some muscle relaxing techniques,
so you are not tense when goto sleep.
do not watch tv at least for 3hours before sleep ,
and invest in fully dark eye pads.
It may be hard going for a week or so ,
but once the routine settles in and you stick with it,
reinforce it, it will occur i assure you .
make darn sure those kids are out side getting exercise
energy tension out for that hour after lunch before nap time,
dont le tthe kids run you , you supply them with good energy
output to ensure they will ge tto sleep.
If there is anexception that you spot, use it to your advantage..
jot down times that the kids seem to want to rest, and make your
naptimes then if need..
botton line.. MOM rests too..
allt the laundry , toys everywhere, dises etc will still be there..
day after day lol
don't stay up to clean when they fall asleep!
esp about and hour before their night bathes,
engae them in play , build a tent over table, ahve them draw.

I put up unpritned newspaperon a wall for kids to draw on creatively,
so they coudl draw cheaply , randomly without destroying the wall.. and we left it up.
no sugared type foods for kids at all if possible lol ,
but certainly for at least 3-4 hours before sleep time.
The bathes will help them relax too ,
and youcan make the tent a *cozy spot* bet they fall asleep in there!

If you can at all afford a sitter.. a young girl about age 12-15 is great..
to come in after school and even pay her to watch the kids for an hour
while you take a nap as a last resort is well worth it.
give her liek 15 $ a week for that and you will feel world s better
and so willshe, your kids will love having another kid *play with them*

If you can't even rest quietly at night,
then get up and do something active (but not thought stimulating)
like listening to soft music,taking tiem for yourself..
bodycare stuff like that.. massage feet and hands,
you will NOT die from lack of sleep !
the body will simply fall asleep on its own when it is totally tired.

To keep the kids and yours.. bio-rhythms in balance,
get in sunshine in early morning for at least 15 minutes a
day.

Hope this gives you some ideas,
don't worry too much about houe clean up /
your partner cna help with soem of that even if only on days off..
just focus on keeping dishes neede dto drink and eat on clean and if dont hav eitme
to fold clothes, at elast put all clean ones in one spot..
youcan make this into a game btw with small kids..
hav ethem get their own clothes off couch and at least put them in their
own pile, or to their own drawers..dont' woor yb aout folding let them do it ther way
at least it is getting done, (lol)
Well,
My heart goes out to you ,
STAY AWAY FROM MEDS!

Love,
Ami Joi Benton
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