It seemed like a good idea at the time. Since school ended Tyler has slowly but surely started sleeping later and later. Most mornings, if I don’t wake him, he will wake up around 9 or 9:30. I usually wake up between 7 and 8. I figured if I let him sleep late this would give me time to work or simply an hour of “me” time. The “experts” often advise parents, especially moms, to get up before the kids do so I figured I would take their advice.
The one thing I neglected to take into account was the nighttime battles I have been having with Tyler. Letting him sleep late only makes it worse. It took me nearly two weeks to realize this. I guess giving up coffee (again!) has clouded by thinking. But as he slept peacefully this morning suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was 9:30 and he didn’t look like he was going to stir anytime soon. I stood over him and wondered should I wake him or let him sleep. My thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of my cell phone. After a 15-minute talk, Tyler was still in Slumberland. Was the kid breathing? Yep, still with us but by now it was almost 10 a.m. I knew I had to wake him or he would probably be up half the night. But it was so quiet and peaceful I really wanted to let him sleep. I reasoned that it was Friday after all and I normally don’t work Friday nights. But the point is I still like an early bedtime so that I can have some time to myself.
So I roused him. While I cooked breakfast- that was brunch by this time- I decided that if I want to avoid nighttime battles I’d better wake him earlier. If I wake at 7, I can still have an hour alone but I definitely think I need to wake him up no later than 8:30. At least most days that is. There will be exceptions of course. When it’s raining for instance, there’s no real need to get up early. Plus, before you know it, school will be back in session and it will probably be harder to resume his previous schedule if I allow him to sleep late. Getting him up earlier will hopefully assure that he will actually be sleepy enough to go to bed without any battles.
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