I’m dealing with a new dilemma in this parenting game.

 
I have learned to wake up between 5:30- 6am for the past 11 years, spring out of bed and immediately get started on the assembly line that begins with laundry hampers, making breakfasts, packing lunches, drinking tea, Martha Stewarting my flat sheets, pimping my mini-van and even on some days, rare days, I have seconds to spare for some minor, albeit essential, personal grooming.

 
I keep busy throughout the day and like clockwork at 8pm, a wave I can only describe as one part dizzy, two parts exhaustion, three parts evaporated caffeine, rushes through my body as a ten minute warning that any and all jobs that haven’t been completed before the deadline will simply have to wait until the next morning because I. Am. Spent.

 
And….pencils down.

 
I have no problem falling asleep–None. There are days I even roll the dice by drinking a cup of tea well after 4pm (because I’m a rebel) and even that exercise, something that used to keep me awake until the following Tuesday is no match for my total and utter exhaustion.

 
But the kids have introduced a completely new spin I just wasn’t expecting and hadn’t trained for.

 
They are starting to come home from some of their activities after 8pm.

 
I stand at my post behind the kitchen sink, eyes half closed, listening to music. Then I realize, there’s no music playing, it’s just in my head. It’s quiet, sleepy elevator music. Even my head music can’t play anything that will keep me from falling asleep.

 
My God are they going to want a snack when they get in the door? I’ve put everything away! I already made them an after school snack, dinner on-the-go in the car, are they seriously going to come in here looking for more food? Dirtying post-8pm dishes?

 
What if they just want to unwind for a while before going straight to bed? What do I do then? I want to go to bed! Would it be entirely weird if I went to bed before my kids?

 
Is someone going to want to shower? That will tack on another 20 minutes in hair drying and random mirror funny faces.

 
This is all shifting and I’m not sure I’m ready.

 
Rest up parents.

 
It was fun while it lasted.