--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 6. REGULARITY: Figuring out when they…" description: "\"“6. REGULARITY: Figuring out when they will sleep or eat is a daily puzzle for parents of spirited children who are irregular. It seems impossible to g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/774/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_children_6-regularity-figuring-out-when-they-will_984293.jpg" --- # 6. REGULARITY: Figuring out when they will sleep or eat is… ![“6. REGULARITY: Figuring out when they will sleep or eat is a daily puzzle for parents of spirited children who are irregular. It seems impossible to get them onto any kind of schedule. An eight-hour night of undisturbed sleep is a mere memory lingering in your mind from the days before their birth.” quote by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/774/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_children_6-regularity-figuring-out-when-they-will_984293.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/774/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_children_6-regularity-figuring-out-when-they-will_984293.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/774/mary-sheedy-kurcinka-17820_children_6-regularity-figuring-out-when-they-will_984293.jpg) > ““6. REGULARITY: Figuring out when they will sleep or eat is a daily puzzle for parents of spirited children who are irregular. It seems impossible to get them onto any kind of schedule. An eight-hour night of undisturbed sleep is a mere memory lingering in your mind from the days before their birth.”” [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents of energetic children struggle to impose regular sleep and eating schedules; consistent rest feels like a distant memory. **In simple terms:** Finding routine with lively children is challenging. Key Takeaway Create flexible yet consistent routines. Themes parenting routine child behavior Mood practical empathetic Type advice supportive When to use this quote - early childhood education - work‑life balance Key Concepts sleep hygiene family dynamics time management Questions to Reflect On - What small adjustments could improve sleep? - How can you honor the child's energy while adding structure? A Different Perspective Rigid schedules may increase stress for both child and parent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Irregular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-irregular-1973791/) [Figuring Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figuring-sleep-1973789/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Sleep Eat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep-eat-1365816/) [Undisturbed Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undisturbed-sleep-1973790/) ## Related quotes > [How undisturbed, the sleep of the foolish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/how-undisturbed-the-sleep-of-the-foolish/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [You get yourself prepared for a big game, you get yourself up for it. Then afterwards you don't sleep or eat properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-giggs/you-get-yourself-prepared-for-a-big-game-you-get-yourself-up-for-it/) [Ryan Giggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-giggs/) > [You cannot cheat success! Gotta work for it! You gotta breathe it! Sleep it! 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Now I have that with my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerri-walsh/i-used-to-sleep-eat-breathe-volleyball-now-i-have-that-with-my-kids/) [Kerri Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerri-walsh/) > [I'd eat, eat, eat, not exercise, go to sleep, eat and eat. I looked up in the mirror and said I had to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biz-markie/i-d-eat-eat-eat-not-exercise-go-to-sleep-eat-and-eat-i-looked-up-in/) [Biz Markie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biz-markie/) > [“Should I tell her that I can’t sleep, I can’t eat and I miss talkin’ to her? Or just sittin’ with her? That I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/should-i-tell-her-that-i-can-t-sleep-i-can-t-eat-and-i-miss-talkin-to/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [I just want to sleep, and eat, and learn about what's going on in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-just-want-to-sleep-and-eat-and-learn-about-what-s-going-on-in-the/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) ## More by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka > [“2. PERSISTENCE: If an idea or an activity is important to them, spirited children can “lock” right in. They are committed to their task,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/2-persistence-if-an-idea-or-an-activity-is-important-to-them-spirited/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“8. FIRST REACTION: A quick withdrawal from anything new is typical of many spirited kids. Any unfamiliar idea, thing, place, or person may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/8-first-reaction-a-quick-withdrawal-from-anything-new-is-typical-of/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“When you’re in the middle and stuck, you need to know when to back out and call for help. If that person is someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/when-you-re-in-the-middle-and-stuck-you-need-to-know-when-to-back-out/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“It almost seems un-American, at times, to have kids who are slow to warm up. Other people tell us to push them—to force them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/it-almost-seems-un-american-at-times-to-have-kids-who-are-slow-to/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“9. MOOD: The world is a serious place for some spirited kids. 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ENERGY: The tales of spirited kids I hear from parents are truly amazing, like that of the two-week old baby that “crawled” the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/7-energy-the-tales-of-spirited-kids-i-hear-from-parents-are-truly/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“Words control the impulses; without them children have no protective devices to slow their reactions. Frequently I am asked, “Aren’t you just begging for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/words-control-the-impulses-without-them-children-have-no-protective/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“2. You did not make your child spirited. 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How your child’s temperament…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/you-do-make-a-difference-but-biology-is-not-destiny-what-we-now-know/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) > [“Love your spirited child for who she is. Because she is more, she will make you more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/love-your-spirited-child-for-who-she-is-because-she-is-more-she-will/) [Mary Sheedy Kurcinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) [Explore all 36 Mary Sheedy Kurcinka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-sheedy-kurcinka/) ## More Baby quotes > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. 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As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [And I gave you my all, now baby be mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/and-i-gave-you-my-all-now-baby-be-mine/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. 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