• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Products / Baby Gear
    • Best Mom & Baby Products
    • Ultimate Baby Registry Guide
  • Pregnancy
    • Prenatal
    • Breastfeeding
  • Baby
    • Month 1-3
    • Month 4-6
    • Month 7-9
    • Month 10-12
    • Second Year
    • Toddler
  • #MomLife
  • About Rookie Moms
  • Nav Widget Area

Rookie Moms

Pregnancy > Parenthood

You are here: Home / Challenges / Stop talking about sleep! {Rookie Moms Challenge #21}

Stop talking about sleep! {Rookie Moms Challenge #21}

27 shares
  • Facebook26
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

When my friend, a fellow new mom, told me that she gave up complaining for Lent, I thought she was a genius. So, instead of complaining about how my child was sleeping, I simply talked nonstop about it. Eventually, I had completely exhausted and bored myself talking about Weston’s sleep patterns, so I thought it was an apt time to complete Rookie Mom Challenge #21: Talk About Something Besides Sleep.

Challenge Accepted!
I picked a very busy day to shift gears: Weston and I would be attending MommaCon; a brand new convention all about things to do with babies and children on Long Island. We would be attending with a friend and her baby, and she was bringing friends. I figured it was a perfect time to use the conversation starters Heather and Whitney suggested!

Maternity leave challenge: stop talking about sleep #rookiemoms

Distract Yourself, Mama
I decided my one rule was that I couldn’t bring up Weston’s sleep; if someone asked me about it, I could either change the subject, or answer and move on. I quickly realized that the best way to not think about your child’s sleep (or lack thereof, in my case!) is to distract yourself! Do something different, out of the way, and new. We experienced our longest drive, went to a totally new place, and partook in a new activity.

The convention was amazingly cool! I got information on music classes, tons of freebies, talked about doing fun fashion things on my blog, and didn’t think about Weston’s sleep habits at all! I used the conversation starters with the other new moms, asking about their jobs, their high school experiences, and what their children ate. It was really nice to get to know my friend a little better (I had had no clue where she even grew up!), as well as meet other new moms and trade some ideas with them.

Maternity leave challenge: stop talking about sleep #rookiemoms

It’s A Process…
After about an hour, the little one started to lose his cool (it was very loud!), so we hopped outside to listen to some music. I have to admit, it is so ingrained in me to discuss his sleeping, that when my friend asked, “is he sleeping?” I quickly quipped back with, “Well, inconsistently! Some nights, yes, some nights, no, some nights in his crib, some in our bed…” She smiled and said, “Um, I meant right now? Is he sleeping in his stroller?”

Head smack.

Through intentionally changing the subject and not dwelling on sleep (or sleeplessness!), I realized how the constant chatter about sleep makes me feel frustrated, sometimes embarrassed, and confused. To be honest, most of the time I think I’m rocking the Rookie Mom thing, but when it comes to sleep “issues,” I go back to feeling like a clueless kid.

Yes, this is going to be a process, but I’ve got to curb it when it comes to talking about sleep: his or mine. Because, really, it isn’t fair to Weston: he’s an amazing, funny, smart, silly little boy who deserves for me to talk about all the positive things, not the one negative thing he’s maybe, sometimes, having some issues with!

So, I dare you, Rookie Moms: take the “sleep talk” out of your vocabulary and see what happens to your spirit; I’m excited to stop talking about it, that’s for sure!

Rookie Moms Challenges -- weekly adventures for moms and babiesFind more baby activities with the 52 weekly rookie mom challenges. If you’re already participating, use hashtag #rookiemoms on instagram or twitter so we can cheer each other on.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Olivia Howell
Olivia Howell
I'm a 28-year old new mom. By day, I’m a middle school history and Latin teacher. I live on the North Shore of Long Island with my husband and son Weston who was born in August 2013. I’ve been running Lovely at Your Side with my sister for five years.
Olivia Howell
Latest posts by Olivia Howell (see all)
  • Things to do on Long Island with babies and toddlers - August 12, 2021
  • When dehydration gets serious (sponsored) - October 12, 2017
  • Meet the Philips AVENT Anti-colic bottles - November 14, 2016

May 2, 2014 5:53 am Olivia Howell Filed Under: Challenges, NY Metro, Rant, Reader Did-do, Sleepy

Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter

Primary Sidebar

Search our site

The Best 20 Stay at Home Mom Jobs in 2024!

The Best 20 Stay at Home Mom Jobs in 2024!

19 Best Nursery Gliders of 2024! [Tested by Parents for Parents]

19 Best Nursery Gliders of 2024! [Tested by Parents for Parents]

The 50 Best Toys for 2 Year Old Boys in 2023! [+ Toys of the Year]

The 50 Best Toys for 2 Year Old Boys in 2023! [+ Toys of the Year]

6 Fool-Proof Strategies for When Your Toddler Won’t Stay in Bed

6 Fool-Proof Strategies for When Your Toddler Won’t Stay in Bed

The Best Gender Reveal Gifts (30+ Unique Ideas!)

The Best Gender Reveal Gifts (30+ Unique Ideas!)

10 Best Strollers In 2023 – For Every Mom’s Needs!

10 Best Strollers In 2023 – For Every Mom’s Needs!

Join our Rookie Moms Facebook Page

Rookie Moms

Disclosure

Review Policy
Privacy Policy

This site is an Amazon affiliate.

Popular Articles

150 Unique Middle Names for Girls

Footer

Browse By Age

  • Pregnancy
  • Month 1-3
  • Month 4-6
  • Month 7-9
  • Month 10-12
  • Toddler
  • Preschooler

Problem Solving

  • Sleepy
  • Eating
  • Breastfeeding
  • Home
  • Baby Registry
  • Pregnancy
  • Baby
  • Toddler
  • Preschooler
  • Baby Gear
  • #MomLife
  • Holidays
    • Holiday Gift Guide
    • Holiday Entertaining

© Copyright 2016 · Pretty Lifestyle WordPress Theme by: PDCD