Slap on your favourite PJs (if you weren’t already wearing them) and fill up the coffee pot: It’s New Year’s Eve! Time to give in to the pressure of your kids wanting to stay up so late that they are horrible human beings tomorrow, and wish upon a star that YOU are able to do the same.
You may ask yourself: Is this how we celebrate things now that we’re parents? Yes, yes, it is. And if you’re a parent who takes to Twitter that day? Here’s what your feed will read like:
6:00 a.m.: Happy New Year’s Eve! Up at the usual (kid-insisted) time, but that doesn’t mean I can’t stay up til tomorrow! #GonnaMakeItTilMidnight
9:00 a.m.: Tonight is grown-ups only. Yay for date night! We’re making a nice dinner and have champagne to pop. What are your plans? #OtherThanCoffee
Noon: I’ve been out-voted. Kids are staying up to see the fireworks with us. Making party hats for all! Adding frozen pizza to the menu!
2:00 p.m.: Put on another movie to make kids stop saying, “I’m BORED, is it tomorrow yet?” while my husband naps. Maybe I’ll live as well as them next year?
4:00 p.m.: Another cup of coffee in the “BEST MUM EVER” mug I got for Christmas to make sure I’m #GonnaMakeItTilMidnight *yawns*
6:00 p.m.: Skipping baths to have a dance party and make cupcakes, instead. Last sprinkles of the year!
8:00 p.m.: Airing out the house after leaving the cupcakes too long. Good thing we have ice cream!
9:00 p.m.: Kid puked. I’m drinking champagne straight from the bottle while the tub fills. #GonnaMakeItTilMidnightEvenIfItKillsMe
10:00 p.m.: Everyone clean and in PJs and way more hyper than I expected. At least we’re all #GonnaMakeItTilMidnight
11:00 p.m.: Two kids asleep on me on the couch, sweating like pigs at a BBQ. Husband keeps elbowing me, telling me to stay up. I swear I’m fine!
Midnight …
12:02 a.m.: OF COURSE I WASN’T ASLEEP WHEN THE FIREWORKS STARTED.
12:03 a.m.: Okay, fine. I was. But it’s not like it’s midnight EVERYWHERE yet.
12:04 a.m.: Happy New Year, everyone!
More from the trenches: