I don’t know about you, but I hate mornings. I never used to. Almost my whole life I would wake up before my alarm even went off and hop out of bed excited to start a new day. In college, I’d wake up at 5am to run. Sick.
But these days, I dread mornings. I dread days. I stay up way too late every night enjoying every single second of kid-free time and putting off the inevitable going to bed and waking up in the morning to another day. Again.
I’ve been trying to get myself to bed earlier. I’ve been trying to plan events that will excite me about the ensuing day. I’ve been setting out my clothes in hopes that they will entice me out of bed and to don them in anticipation of a new day.
So far, I haven’t been overwhelmingly successful. I’ve asked my kids to please come in and help me wake up. To turn off my fan, to tell me how much they love me and want me to wake up. Yes–this is pretty pathetic and desperate, but obviously I need help and am asking for it–even if it’s from the ones who are making my mornings so incredibly challenging (aka miserable) that I want to burrow under the covers and pretend they don’t exist and that I can’t hear them shouting “mommy…MOMMY! We’re hungry! Mommy I’m wet. Mommy, can I watch a show? Mommy, I need a sipper. Mum-MEE, da-DEE, mum-MEE, da-DEE, mum-MEE” (that’s Addi–at about 189 decibels).
I have a feeling that since I take my meds in the morning, they kind of peter out overnight and I wake up pretty empty in the morning. I’m just not sure I want to tinker with them to get myself adjusted. Do I cut one in half and take1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the evening? Do I take them at lunch, dinner, bedtime instead of second thing in the morning? Going to the bathroom is ALWAYS first thing, TMI?
Anyone have any helpful suggestions? I mean, other than “how about waking up at 5am for some time alone, a shower, and being dressed and ready for the day before your kids wake up?”
Sarcasm aside, that is actually my ideal scenario. I envision waking up early, silently donning a cozy exercise suit and walking shoes, bundling up and walking with headphones to listen to sermons, books, or self-help talks that will help me connect with God, get my brain going, and entice me to repeat the scenario every morning. Then returning home for a hot shower so I can be dressed and mentally ready to truly say “good morning” and be excited when the rest of my family members awaken to start their days.
(Here comes the big butt…) I always have a million excuses. I don’t have the right shoes. I don’t have the right outfit. I don’t have a headband. I’ve never used an iPod before. I’m sure I’ll wake everyone else up early, I’ll be cranky, they’ll be cranky, and it’ll ruin the day. I’ll probably never do it and then just feel worse about setting myself up for failure.
But what if I DO do it? (I just said doo-doo, hah!) What if I’m successful? What if this tiny bit of discipline and scheduling revolutionizes our family’s life? Am I more afraid of failing or succeeding?
Sorry this just kinda drops off…but it is a journal entry. There are no rules. And I can smell a stinky diaper wafting up from the basement–yes my nostrils are that sensitive. Or the diaper is THAT stinky…
Oh, I can so relate! I have never been a morning person and having three kids who are is so not fun. My six year old wakes us up at 6 or 6:30. I am not a nice person in the morning and I have been gently reminded, by my husband who can set his alarm and jump up out of bed the instant it goes off, that I need to be a bit more cheerful. It is so hard to do when you have been up with one of the kids for hours at a time. I have no real good advice but I can completely understand how you feel. I have tried the early morning exercise thing only to find that it just exhausts me. I just try daily to keep my mood positive as I help get the kids ready for the day. A big pot of coffee always helps:) You can always come to my house for a home cooked breakfast! Maybe it will smell better than the diaper! Have a great day!
I think this is a common struggle. I don’t mind mornings, but I am always so tired that I don’t get up until I have to. I always find it easier if I wake up before Ashlyn, even a half hour earlier. Having a few minutes to decide what I want to do seems to make a difference for me. When I wait until she wants to get out of her crib, which I do every day, then I am tired and drag through the morning. That extra 1/2 hour to hour I get by staying in bed seems to make it worse. I think it’s because waking up on my own or gradually with the snooze better seems to be better for my body.
What if you picked one day a week to set your alarm and get up before the kids? When you get up, do something that you like. Then it becomes a specific attainable goal. Maybe that day you can also have extra “snuggle time” with the kids – under a blanket with a movie.
By the way, thanks for the laughs last night. That really helped me.
Kristi–I think a little breakfast club might be a good idea! And I would hope that something you cooked would smell better than a dirty diaper–oh my.
Diane–good suggestion. I’m already starting to plan…and already starting to procrastinate and put off which day my “early morning” will be.
Last week when I agreed to help in the nursery for Women in the Word I was up, showered, dressed and ready just as the kids were waking up. Having an “event” really put the gas in my tank.
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who really struggles with mornings. Man, they are just brutal every single day!
Mornings are the worst, When PPD was at its worst, I would have MAJOR anxiety in the morning. Now, I just want to sleep in. Before Annelise, I would sleep till like 10:00 every Saturday, and usually lounge around until 2:00 or later. Now, it is an endless struggle to get up, and I am still so tired…..I totally know where you are coming from about staying up later for some kid-free time. It gets me too.
I hate mornings too. Ever since I was a kid I hated them. They had to pry me outta bed to get me to school and that didnt usually happen. Sleeping is so fun. Now I am 36 and still love sleep. I eat right and exercise, take care of myself. But I still love sleep!!
Maybe this world is so pathetic that dreaming is the only reality worth seeing. I dont know. I have kids too and could do better. But, moving forward is a chore for me. I am working on a Bachelor but WORK gives me an ill feeling. I cant stand the thought of it. I cherish being care-free and would gladly take lower numbers annually just to get the extra free time.