On weekends and holidays, my children seem to be in a fierce competition with those early-morning birds, both vying for the title of the earliest riser. The sun barely makes its appearance before they jump out of bed, bouncing around as if they’ve spent the night wrapped in caffeinated sheets. They have no concept of the phrase “sleep in” unless it’s prefaced with “can we” and followed by “in the living room” or “in a tent,” or some other random spot that’s not their own beds.
However, come school days, that endless morning enthusiasm vanishes, leaving behind nothing but groggy bodies sprawled out, drooling like they’ve discovered the secrets of deep sleep on what must be a magical mattress. I dread the next 20 minutes, knowing that waking them up is going to be one of the most challenging parts of my day.
Getting them out of bed is tough for numerous reasons. First, the early morning hours are some of the few peaceful moments in my house, a brief period of calm where silence reigns, free from fighting, whining, or the blaring sounds of electronics. Disrupting that quietness feels wrong—like blasting an air horn during a classical concert or putting ketchup on a chocolate cake.
To make matters worse, I’ve spent countless hours trying to keep them asleep since they were infants, employing desperate tactics like tackling the delivery person to avoid doorbell rings or contorting my body to sneak out of their room. The instinct to let them sleep peacefully doesn’t just vanish when school begins, unfortunately.
I typically start with a gentle approach, opening the curtains to let in the morning light, hoping they’ll wake up as cheerfully as the sun. “Good morning!” I chime, channeling my inner Mary Poppins. “It’s going to be a fantastic day!” I lightly stroke their arms and pat their backs, only to be met with absolute stillness. They’re like rocks.
So, I crank it up a notch, getting a bit louder and more assertive; gentle pats morph into nudges, and my cheerful tone shifts to something firmer: “Hey, it’s time to get up.” If I’m lucky, I might get a muffled groan, but usually, they just bury themselves deeper under the covers, as if they think that will make me vanish.
This only frustrates me further, prompting me to unleash my “mean mom” voice, a blend of drill sergeant and tyrant: “GET! OUT! OF BED!” By the time they finally blink awake, we’re exchanging glares. I sometimes wonder if demolishing their bedroom wall like the Kool-Aid Man to drag them out would be viewed as excessive.
To make things even more complicated, it’s a school morning, so I’m racing against the clock. If I don’t get them up, dressed, fed, and out the door on time, it leads to a cascade of unfortunate events, including the dreaded bra-wearing and the chaos of the drop-off line. The fear of missing that bus renews my resolve to get them out of bed, come what may.
This is my routine five mornings a week, and it never changes. They are perpetually reluctant to leave their beds on weekdays. Once they finally wake up, they can be quite pleasant, and once my blood pressure settles back to a normal level, we can proceed with our morning routine. It’s relatively smooth sailing after that… well, until they start whining about their breakfast options, the little ingrates. But at least they’re dressed and ready before the complaints start.
For more insights into navigating parenting challenges, check out this post, which dives deeper into the struggles of morning routines and how to manage them effectively.
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In summary, waking children for school can be a chaotic struggle filled with challenges and frustrations. The transition from peaceful mornings to the frantic rush of getting them ready can test the patience of any parent. But once they are up and moving, the rest of the day can progress more smoothly, even if it comes with its own set of complaints.