They wake up at 7am no matter what time they go to bed.
Last night, we went to grandma and grandpa's house so it was a late night. We didn't get home until after 8 and bedtime didn't happen until crap, almost 10. And what happens? They both get up at 7am. Allison was a ~terrible~ child this morning too. She was obviously tired from not enough sleep but dang, I can't make her sleep in!
The reason I am very strict on bed time is two fold. Or maybe three fold. Or four.
1. My kids get up at 7am regardless. So they need their sleep - at least 11 hours each night.
2. I don't stay at home, so even if they did sleep in when tired, I couldn't let them do it during the week. It doesn't happen anywho, but IF it did ...
3. I really really really believe bedtimes are a trained thing. Ella will be starting kindergarten in a little over a year and she'll have to get up early. I personally think she'll do better in getting up early but learning to go to bed early now. I certainly don't want to just let her do whatever the first 5 years and then just change her up. By the time she starts school, her little 5 years will be all the years she's ever lived, so I want to help her with all of this now. I honestly think being a "nightowl" or a "morning person" starts with bedtime as children.
I was the 5th child and by the time I was growing, rules were very lax. Although I had a bedtime, it was later than most of my friends. My body and mind was trained from the beginning to go to bed when I was tired, not when it was ~time~ for bed. So as a growing pre-teen and teen, I needed that sleep and wouldn't get it because I simply didn't know how to go to sleep when I should. Wakeup times are the same during the school year if I went to bed at 10pm or 8pm. Too bad I was allowed to go to bed later rather than earlier.
4. I want and need my own time at night. Although I love being a mom, I also relish the fact I'm still Nancy. And it would be hard to keep my identity if I was mom from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed. So bedtimes for the kids is a big part of this.
These are obviously my opinions on the subject. If other parents think differently, that's cool. I'm just listing what works for ~my~ family!
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4 comments:
I would be the exception to your 'rule' :o)
Mom had me in bed at 8:00 pm and I was up at 8 am. I needed two napsa day until I was in Kindergarten. After school I would eat lunch then take a nap. And I am so NOT a morning person.
Now as an adult, I am a total and utter nightowl. I think it was working in resturants 2nd shift that did it. I would love to stay up until 2 am get up at 10 am and be at work at 3pm. I would be a much happier camper if I worked 10am to 6 pm.
I agree wholeheartedly, with almost all of your reasons, but #4 really hits home. That is pretty much the only *ME* (or me+hubby) time I have, except the 2 days/week I am getting up at 5:30 to go to the gym. That doesn't really count as me time in my book.
Amen. I'm totally with ya on all points. I get such crap for my girls' early bedtimes, but I don't care. They need 11-12 hours and I need a few to myself at night. They need well-rested brains for the day and I am a huge proponent that good sleep has something to do with learning, IQ, etc. They are very well-behaved and I'm 100% sure a good sleep schedule contributes to this.
Keep up the good work.
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