working 3rd shift, raising small children, and sleep..how??

if your spouse isn't working, smack em! That's their job too! If they are, put the boys in day care at least half day so you can sleep.

Just so you know, I can barely read your third response (it shows up in a bright yellow font on my iPad).

When i was on nights years ago, I would lay there and force myself to try to sleep. This was before herbal remedies were used by the masses, boy I wish I knew about them then.

My advice: if it is a scheduling issue (no one to watch the kids), you need to find someone who can watch them. Put your pride aside, ask a friend, relative, find someone in the neighborhood who needs some extra cash who you trust. Find the money in your budget if you are strapped for cash.

If you don't get the sleep you need, you are useless to your children and your patients.

Cant you put them in school?

Of course mostly you never want to be useless to your kids, you cannot get those years back, I hope you can find someone to watch them in your home while you sleep.

Um if your husband isn't working and isn't sleeping from working nights as well, he needs to do his part. It's only fair. I don't have kids, but the nurses I work with who have kids and whose husbands are working during the day put their kids in day care a few days a week. It's the only way for them to have enough rest to be responsible at work and with their kids.

most of the people i work with in this situation dont get any sleep. maybe an hour or two. I get report from them, and they are falling asleep midsentence. just the way it is where i am.

My hubby gets them to school/daycare in the morning before he leaves for work. Then I'm able to sleep until school's out. On weekends, he takes care of them & I usually get an extra hour or two of sleep. Works great for us!