Should I Wake My Kids? Advice to an Awesome Mom
I love it when someone asks me for advice. For a parenting strategist with a blog named Merry Meddling, it’s like pouring gasoline on a fire.
Awesome Mom’s Question:
Should I or shouldn’t I wake up my kids in the morning?
Time To Merrily Meddle:
“Should I, or shouldn’t I?” That is the question. When do you treat them like a child (Mommy does the laundry), and when do you treat them like a roommate (roommates do their own laundry). As you try to decide whether to let the dice fall where they may, or whether to pick up the pieces, don’t forget to consider the impact on you.
Powerful Parenting Strategies:
You can hand them the alarm clock and tell them to have a go at it. Or, you could wake them every day. Or, you could do both.
One Friday night in August, I gave my first-grader an alarm clock and taught her how to set it. When I went to bed, I set my clock for 10 minutes earlier so I could help her greet the day. After it went off, we began by re-setting her clock for the next day… right after our good-morning-hug. By the time school started two weeks later, she and the alarm clock were as one.
But, what if the clock fails? Should you or shouldn’t you step in? Ask yourself this. Would you for a friend?
What if you have a teenager who needs all that sleep for their developing body? If getting up is too hard with their present schedule, wait until the weekend (when it doesn’t matter) to discuss how to adjust schedules to accommodate an earlier bedtime.
If you have a teen who struggles to wake up every day, I’d avoid the nagging path, which will stress out your entire household. Instead, I vote for turning on some extremely energetic uplifting music with a beat. Play it outside the bedroom doors so they have to get up to turn it off.
Don’t forget about you. If waking them up contributes to your stress, wean them off. If leaving them to their own devices makes everyone late to school and work, creating more stress for you, play John Philip Sousa marching tunes at 5:00am.
If they aren’t ready in time, make them leave unprepared. They’ll reorganize themselves if they are able. If they aren’t, you can help them learn. The point is, make a choice that fits your family and keeps you calm.
Should I, or shouldn’t I?
Yeah, you should.
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I’m always looking for more content to share with you. If you have any suggestions, let me know.
More soon. Wishing you health and happiness,
Deborah
Parenting Strategist Extraordinaire
Empowering the moms will empower the daughters as they lead by example. If you want some guidance in that department…
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About the Author
Hi There! And, Welcome!
I’m Deborah Ann Davis, and I’ve been at this for over three decades, first as a high school teacher, and now as a parenting strategist within The Awesome Mom Tribe. I’m into sharing tons of techniques that put you in touch with yourself, despite all that negative energy out there.
On a personal note, I’m all about bird-watching, rock-collecting, picture-taking and science-geeking. I have a wonderful husband and we have an incredible daughter (objectively speaking, of course). Basically, with all its ups and downs, I love my life!
The Secret to a Healthy Life: Laugh Every Day!
