Oh, Michael. I hear you. My husband describes parenting as “the highest highs and the lowest lows a person can experience.” The years when the kids are that young are such a teeter-totter of adorable vs. unbearable. Our children used to want a particular person to snuggle them in bed before they went to sleep, and it was both wonderfully affirming to be The Chosen One and simultaneously an irritation to be chosen because that meant lying there, trying to enjoy the moment with my child but distracted by the running list of all I still needed to accomplish before I could allow myself to go to bed. My hubby would just go with it and fall asleep, but I struggled to stay awake, knowing my to-do list would only be longer in the morning if I gave in and rested. Those days are long past now, and I’m glad for the times I did allow myself to enjoy the snuggles, because they’re only young for such a short time.

That said, you’ll keep having those rollercoaster moments, and all I can say is to hang in there. It’s still worth it, even when your body and brain are screaming for privacy, rest, and food that someone else hasn’t wanted a bite of first. :)