8 pm.
You can’t fully understand the importance of that hour until you’re a parent.
Then you have kids…and suddenly you live for 8 pm.
That’s when your kids are in bed for the night.
Or if not you wish they were.
Don’t get me wrong…. I love my kids…. I live for my kids. I am SO unspeakably grateful for my children and thankful that *I* was chosen to be their mom.
I’ve never wanted anything more in life than to be a mom.
But your life isn’t your own when you have kids…. You definitely lay down your life for your children.
And sometimes they just suck the very life right out of you.
Sometimes you have those days where you want to rip every last hair out of your head.
Sometimes you think you might run out the front door screaming if you hear the word ‘Mama’ ONE. MORE. TIME.
Sometimes an extended stay in the psychiatric hospital seems like a relaxing get-a-way that you might really like to try.
Then they go to bed and fall asleep, you breathe a huge sigh of relief, and then…
…you just want to sit right by their side and stare at their beautiful angelic little faces.
You fall in love with them all over again. 
It makes no sense. You can’t wait for them to go to sleep….. and then once they’re asleep you spend hours on your knees beside their little beds thanking God for them and pleading His protection over them, and begging for one more chance to do it all again tomorrow. 
You really, truly miss them during that 10 or 12 hours.
And Lord knows you need to miss them. 
I’ll be honest…. I’ve had one of those weeks. 
But at 8 pm…. its all going to be ok.
Come on, tomorrow…I’m ready for my babies to wake up so I can hear their voices.
Even if they are going to call me Mama 172,546 times.
That is precious! There's just nothing like a sleeping little angel. And yes, our own quiet time is wonderful, but I can't wait for morning either. We are so blessed!!!!!!
this made me cry. it's all so very true.
I was in total sobs with tears streaming down my face by the time I got to the end of this post. Such truth to what you have said and I have been there more times than I want to admit. Well said my friend.
well said Melissa! this made me cry! so, so true!
So true! I countdown until 8:00 and then about an hour after I put them down, I miss them. :)<br /><br />I agree, well said my friend…well…said.
Great post, Melissa…
i'm not sure if it's my hormones that are still out of whack from having a baby, or if i'm just a sap, but this post did make me cry. i have had one of those weeks…a newborn and 2 other kids at home. 8:00 cant come quick enough and then i miss them when they're asleep. crazy as that seems, even at 2am feedings, i miss my girls that are asleep. thanks for posting. at least i
Sweet and honest post. No matter how much we love them and are thankful for them…. it's tough:) And they are slways so cute when asleep. I use the phrase at night, "They have slowed down enough for their halos to catch up with them:)"