Sometimes, I can’t sleep.
I am not sure why but there are some nights where sleep and I are not in sync.
I know I am not alone. Twitter is full of people who can’t sleep. There must be something about motherhood that makes it difficult to find sleep.
But that still doesn’t change the fact that I wish I could sleep.
I toss and I turn hoping to find just the right comfortable spot will make me drift off to dream land.
I snuggle up tight with Legolas, hoping his elvish magic will make me fall asleep.
I trying some adult physical activity.
But nothing works and I still just can’t sleep.
And just when I think all is lost and I will not be getting any sleep, I remember the one thing that makes me fall right to sleep.
Strawberry Shortcake and her friends.
Before I know it, I am fast asleep dreaming of adventures with Strawberry Shortcake.
*Please note, these pictures are a re-enactment. I have not slept in my clothes or make-up since college. There might have been a few times when the triplets were newborns but honestly I was so exhausted I can’t remember.
**And yes, it is 100% true that thinking about Strawberry Shortcake and making up adventure stories about her in my head helps me fall asleep. I have no idea why but it is something that I have done since I was a kid.
***Also, results may vary and I have no idea if this will work for anyone else but me.
This post is part of Writer’s Workshop
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
See… thoughts of Strawberry shortcake would just make me want strawberry shortcake, you know?
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Jen Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Yes, that is a problem with this method.
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We call that pillow….a cock block.
I have found if I start doing math in my head…I’m asleep in no time. On really rough nights? I ask my husband to come in and tell me about work.
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Jen Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Interesting, that is the name my husband has for it.
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a combination of Valerian and dreaming of Joshua Jackson always does the trick for me. Cause you know, even in my dreams I can’t get close to him :/
Strawberry shortcake though? Interesting
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My body pillow is Norbie…
the hubs is pretty jealous of the way I snuggle with him
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Jen Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
I am so glad to know that I am not the only that names my pillows.
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Baby Einstein can put me to sleep in seconds!
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I had to laugh at Strawberry Shortcake. I used to make up this song that went Peas and Carrots, Peas and Carrots, and that was pretty much it. Over and Over and Over.
I’ve had about 8 hours of sleep the last three nights because either my daughter is coughing up a lung and crying for mommy, or my son has had a nightmare and climbed into bed with me.
Their father always seems to be noticeably absent during the sleepless weeks. I swear he’s psychic and schedules his business trips around the whole thing.
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On the advice of Dr Oz, I started taking Melatonin and wearing a sleep mask. I also bought a cooling matress pad that, surprisingly, works! I’ve been sleeping much better. I just hope that I’m not haunted by Strawberry Shortcake or “peas and carrots” now.
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Thanks for my morning chuckle!! You pics crack me up!
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Ha ha ha.
I never have a hard time falling asleep, it’s going BACK to sleep once I’ve been woken up.
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Huh. May have to try that! Either Strawberry Shortcake…or maybe Rainbow Brite…
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Okay. You’re weird.
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Jen Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Thank you. I enjoy being weird.
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Bwahahaha!! I had to do that. No seriously you are weird. But hey whatever works, right? Sex helps me sleep too, but rolling over and eyeing a gaping mouth releasing wart hog noises hardly gets me going. I use the show “How It’s Made” as a lullaby.
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Oh my I love your hair!
I haven’t had any sleep for a while lately, with an 8 mo old (triplets?? YOU HAVE TRIPLETS?!), and so if I get some alone in my bed time, it’s pretty easy for me. If it’s not, I’ll drink some wine. I think wine is sweeter than ole strawberry shortcake. (side note: my 2 year old was holding his cousins strawberry shortcake figurine and I overheard, “Stwabewwey Shorwtcake, Stwabewwey Shorwtcake, I’m gonna smell your body.” then he took a big wiff of her bottom. Thanks Toy People, for making scented toys.
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Jen Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Oh I forgot that Strawberry Shortcake dolls had a smell…. mmmm, yum.
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Sometimes it takes me forever to fall asleep. I hate it. My husband can fall asleep within minutes of hitting the pillow. Not fair.
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Not being able to sleep always sucks! I use this weird thing I learned in pre-natal yoga. I envision a shot clock and watch it count down from 24 down to zero. Invariably my mind drifts and I have to start back at 24, but eventually I fall asleep.
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I fortunately have never had a sleeping problem, head hits pillow and I am gone. Love the pics. And the whole Strawberry Shortcake thing I will have to keep that in mind,
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Too funny… although in all seriousness, I’m with you… I have the tendency to bolt awake between 3-4 am and just not get back to sleep. FRUSTRATING!
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Your posing for the camera always cracks me up. So do you tell Jeff that he needs to watch the kids for a few minutes so you can go lie in bed and create images for your blog post?
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Jen Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Funny thing is, I can post these pictures on the internet and not have any issues but I can’t take them when Jeff is home because I am too embarrassed. So I take them while the kids are in school or resting.
See, I am weird.
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Funny, but I can soo relate! Why can’t we mommies sleep! Strawberry Shortcake is a new one. Great post and site.
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Jen Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed my post.
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I love this! It cracks me up because I do this sort of thing in my mind as well.
Hope you get a good night’s sleep tonight.
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Funny! I am totally going to name my leg pillow tonight! My husband will be so…..ummmm, well, he will roll his eyes.
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Jen Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Husbands are very good at rolling their eyes. Mine does that at me a lot too.
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Hilarious! This was me the other night…I’ve found I can’t have caffeine after 3 p.m. or else I can’t sleep. I am totally going to think up a Strawberry Shortcake adventure next time, although I have a feeling I’ll dream about the dessert instead
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Phew! for a minute there I thought you had gone all Hollywood with the sleeping in makeup and all
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