The Trials of Parenting Early Riser Kids

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Benjamin Franklin once said, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Cute sentiment, Ben! If by “healthy” you mean perpetually sleep-deprived and “wise” refers to the endless mommy-brain fog. For parents with little ones who jump out of bed at the crack of dawn, the real descriptors are more like: exhausted, drained, and utterly spent (no time for rhymes here, folks!).

My kids are early birds—like, up-and-at-‘em before 6 a.m. every day. Thankfully, they wake up in good spirits. The baby usually starts babbling “mama” or “dada,” and my toddler serenades her dolls. Sweet sounds to wake up to, right? But before I even check the clock, I can’t help but hope for a miracle sleep-in. Nope, it’s 5:45 a.m. I shut my eyes again and silently curse the universe.

Having kids who rise early comes with a unique set of “challenges” that only fellow early-bird parents can truly understand. Here are a few:

1. Nothing Is Open: Sure, my kids aren’t the only ones waking up before dawn, but why do stores, museums, and parks not open until 10 or 11? If these places were run by kids, they would kick things off at the butt-crack of dawn. Confession: we often hit the grocery store at 7 a.m. It’s the only place that’s open! Plus, fewer people means less judgment over the snacks in my cart.
2. Boredom Sets In: It’s not unusual for us to have breakfast, play with toys, read books, and even finish a Disney movie before 8 a.m. I’ve never envied Sleeping Beauty more! Unfortunately, we can’t venture outside since it’s still dark out most of the year (don’t even get me started on Daylight Savings).
3. Naptime Chaos: With a baby up at the crack of dawn, she’s ready for her first nap long before most kids are even awake. I have to work hard to keep her up until 8:30 a.m. before she crashes. You know it’s a rough morning when she’s already had a solid nap before “Live with Kelly and Michael” even starts. So while my kids are snoozing, others are wide awake. Playdates? Good luck with that!
4. Meal Times Are Insane: Lunch at 10 a.m.? Dinner at 4 p.m.? Our whole day shifts earlier because of breakfast at 6:30 a.m. By 3:30, you’ll find me in the kitchen prepping dinner, and we’re usually finished by 5:30. Why so early? Because…
5. Bedtime Before Sunset: Yes, there are still neighborhood kids playing outside, but my kiddos are winding down by 7 p.m. because they’re utterly exhausted. This means we miss out on most evening activities. “Just push their bedtime back,” people say. “Maybe they’ll sleep in!” Nope. Doesn’t work that way. Early risers are programmed to wake up at the same ungodly hour, no matter when they hit the pillow.
6. Your Friends’ Complaints: You can’t help but chuckle when friends lament about their kids waking up at 8 a.m. Really? I can’t remember the last time I’ve slept in that late! “Sleeping in” for us means 7 a.m. at best, and those mornings are so rare that I can count them on one hand. Ironically, even on those rare mornings, parents often find themselves wide awake due to the shock of having sleeping kids.

So how do you cope with these early-rising struggles? Remind yourself that most teenagers need to be dragged out of bed. Good news! You’ve only got 10+ more years of this grueling schedule. Until then, make sure to stock up on caffeine during those 7 a.m. grocery runs. You’re gonna need it!

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Summary

Parenting early-rising kids can be a rollercoaster of exhaustion and chaos, from the challenges of finding early activities to the constant juggling of meal and nap times. While it may feel like an uphill battle, remember that this phase won’t last forever. So prepare for the early mornings with a stash of caffeine and a sense of humor!