What It's Like to Be a Parent on New Year's Eve — Exactly

Face it, since becoming a parent, New Year's Eve really isn't quite the night it used to be, is it? Even though I really never had a New Year's Eve quite live up to my expectations — that glamorous party from When Harry Met Sally was always my ideal — I remember quite a few wild and memorable (though way overpriced) celebrations from my preparenthood days.

With several postbaby New Year's Eves behind us, we've perfected the art of the dinner and party with our friends with similarly aged kids, but every year I have a fleeting thought of making it the best night ever. So, without further ado, I present you with a look at what New Year's Eve is really like as a parent.

It's a week before New Year's Eve, and you're ready to make it your best one yet!
Universal Pictures

It's a week before New Year's Eve, and you're ready to make it your best one yet!

Then you consider all of the nights you have spent cooped up at home and realize you HAVE to go out!
Disney

Then you consider all of the nights you have spent cooped up at home and realize you HAVE to go out!

You frantically call, text, and email every sitter you know only to get laughs on the other end of the line.
Focus Features

You frantically call, text, and email every sitter you know only to get laughs on the other end of the line.

You realize that if you're going to find a sitter, you're going to have to rob a bank.
Warner Bros.

You realize that if you're going to find a sitter, you're going to have to rob a bank.

Your friends laugh at your thought that you could ever get a sitter on New Year's Eve . . .
Shemazing

Your friends laugh at your thought that you could ever get a sitter on New Year's Eve . . .

Because only moms like Gwyneth Paltrow have the right to that!

You resolve to have the best, most outrageous family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration at home.
Lionsgate

You resolve to have the best, most outrageous family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration at home.

You load up on the Disney flicks for the kids . . .
Disney

You load up on the Disney flicks for the kids . . .

And by Disney flicks, we mean you preload Frozen and preselect the repeat setting.

You welcome everyone at 5:30 p.m., because that's when kids eat . . .
Universal Pictures

You welcome everyone at 5:30 p.m., because that's when kids eat . . .

Though eating and throwing food around may be synonymous here.

The kids finish dinner in record time, and both the parents and kids look to you for their next activity.
Disney

The kids finish dinner in record time, and both the parents and kids look to you for their next activity.

The moms sit on the couch gossiping, and the dads break out the poker set until . . .
Fox

The moms sit on the couch gossiping, and the dads break out the poker set until . . .

The first kid has a meltdown.

By 9 p.m. everyone's left, your kids are melting down, and your partner gives you the "I told you so" look.
Starz

By 9 p.m. everyone's left, your kids are melting down, and your partner gives you the "I told you so" look.

Sometime between your guests leaving and midnight, you pass out on the sofa . . .
Disney

Sometime between your guests leaving and midnight, you pass out on the sofa . . .

All of those early mornings have taken their toll.

It's midnight, and you want to crawl into bed, but your little one is ready to party!
ABC

It's midnight, and you want to crawl into bed, but your little one is ready to party!

Though it wasn't the ideal, in the end you're just happy you were all together.
Disney

Though it wasn't the ideal, in the end you're just happy you were all together.