After writing my post about what I do differently now I’m a mum, as my contribution to Sina Kunz’s blog parade, more ideas on surprising changes keep occurring to me. One of them came to mind at around 3 am this morning.

Nowadays, I message my mum friends in the middle of the night – and get responses, too!

Our late-night texting sessions, what I call “The 3 AM Club”, provide support and humour during sleepless nights.

Why Am I Awake at 3 am? The New Normal for Mum-Me

Several of my friends with kids are often up during the night, so we’re all awake and not at work at these ungodly hours, often breastfeeding with nothing much better to do. You know what I mean, those sleepless nights with a baby. So why not use that time for moral support and to vent about our mum lives? Our own little mum support group! My best friend and I call it “The 3 AM Club”, though we’re not really picky about the time – if you message at any point when you would normally (read: pre-kids) be asleep, welcome to The 3 AM Club! 😄

Before I had my Little Bean, I would never have messaged friends so late for fear of waking someone and making them worry that there was an emergency!

My Lifeline During Those Sleepless Nights

Actually, the darkness and quiet while my little one feeds at night is as good a time as any to stay in touch. Our daytimes are busy with work, nursery/school runs, chores, and of course our little ones. Not too much time in there for a long chat or even detailed text message! So late-night texting with mum friends works out pretty well! Honestly, if I didn’t text my best friend when I’m up in the night, we probably wouldn’t have heard from each other much since Little Bean was born, especially as she lives in a different country!

These late-night text chats aren’t just a distraction from having a mini human suckle delicate parts of my body in the middle of the night — they give me and my mum friends some much-needed emotional support and a sense of solidarity.

Laughing (and Venting) Through the Night with Mum Friends

We swap stories about the craziness of parenting, like about the witching hours, or when one friend texted her son was hysterical because “he was forced to take off his Batman pyjamas covered in puke,” or when the sensual woman hidden in me wondered, “if my breasts are empty or just holding out for a better offer!’” We even joke about how, 15 years ago, we’d have been grabbing a kebab after clubbing at this time! 

I find it incredibly comforting to share these sleepless moments with someone who’s going through similar things. It strengthens our friendships and makes those long hours before dawn feel a bit less lonely. We might be running on empty, but knowing we’re in it together makes it a little more manageable.

What abut you?

How often do you message your friends in the middle of the night?! If you can relate, feel free to share this post! Also, leave a comment below – even if (or maybe, especially if) it’s 3 am when you’re writing it!

Also: Feel free to join Sina’s blog parade write about how becoming a parent has changed you, and in which areas of your life you’ve noticed a transformation!