Should Moms Wake Up Before the Kids?

I love peace and quiet, but what if you are like me and have a lot of kids? How do you get that peace and quiet? The mornings are my favorite part of the day because I am rested and the house is peaceful. No one is awake. Sometimes the best way to get this peace and quiet is to wake up before my kids. This brings up a question that moms can disagree about: Should moms wake up before the kids?

During the winter, my kids sleep more. My oldest son would wake up around 6:00 and read quietly in the study (that’s our library/sitting room) while I nurse his baby brother and read my Bible. Afterwards, the baby would crawl around and plays with toys. This worked well until everyone started waking up at 6:00 am due to the sun rising earlier. It just wasn’t as quiet as it was before.

Last week, they were all up at 6:00 asking me question after question. Soon arguments arose as to who would sit on my left side as I read my Bible. To my right is a little table for my coffee. I must have my coffee close by me. The left side is the only side available.  Soon, the tears begin. Not mine. My kids. Everyone wanted to sit next to me. The baby also needed a diaper change. Let’s just say I could not read much. I quickly realized that I might want to try waking up earlier.

So, should moms wake up before the kids?  I have actually seen people get heated over this position. It’s kind of silly, really. I don’t have a strong opinion about the matter, except that it works really well for me, and when I find what works, then I do it.  Now that the mornings are beginning earlier, I set my alarm clock for 5 am, which is what I did last summer. Here are some of the benefits of getting up before my kids.

I Am Happier

I enjoy waking up before my kids. Most days, I exercise and then read my Bible. Once my kids start waking up, I am able to pay attention to them instead of being frustrated that I can’t read a sentence without being asked a question. I get breakfast going earlier and then we start school sooner. Overall, everyone seems happier when I am prepared and ready to care for them.

I Know What I Need

Since my kids are all small and still require a good deal of attention, lots of time is spent helping and teaching them tasks. All of that requires patience. I know myself. What is helpful is to know what I need – alone time to exercise, read, and pray – and to prioritize that. Having that time in the morning helps to grow in my faith which means I can share and apply what I learn during the day.

The hard part is getting to bed early. Even though getting up early requires discipline, part of the discipline comes at night when I need to make sure I stop what I am doing and go to bed. Sometimes it’s hard to do. So should moms get up before the kids even if it’s hard? If you’re like me and need some time alone, then yes, give it a try.

I am Refreshed and More Patient

It’s overwhelming to wake up to a bunch of children asking questions. What is better for me is to wake up to a quiet house and spend some time by myself doing something that is worthwhile. The days I go for a run or do a 15 minute workout from YouTube (I am currently using videos made by FitbyMik), I have more energy and feel refreshed.

I know lots of families look forward to being more relaxed in the summer and enjoying time outside. Well, I always dread the summer here in Arizona. I find that I need to spend time praying for patience because it’s hard when we can’t go outside as often. I would take messy backyard strewn with toys over a house covered with toys. The mess stresses me out, but it’s also good opportunity to practice being patient when my surroundings are less organized and tidy as I would like.

I Am More Productive

This is probably my best reason why I like to get the day going early is because I am more productive, and so are my kids. We can start school around 8 or so and finish by 10:30. That feels so much than starting at 9:30 and ending at 12:00. By getting up an hour before them, I feel like I get two extra hours with them. My hour in the morning is spent well, which allows me to do things faster than I would if the kids were awake. That gives me more time to care for them instead of myself.

Last Thoughts

Should moms get up before the kids? Getting up early works for me, but I know some people who would rather have a slow morning. I have met some people that seem to make it a law that moms should wake up before their kids. I think it’s a great idea because it helps me be a better mom, but everyone has a different style. Moms can also wake up when their kids wake up too. What’s more important is find what works for you. It’s important for moms to be reading their Bibles and having time to pray, but it’s just a matter of what time of day that works best. 

When I wasn’t homeschooling, I didn’t feel as much of an urge to be efficient with my time. The days were slow and enjoyable. They still are enjoyable, but there’s a lot more to accomplish each day. A mom who gets up before the kids is one way of using time wisely. I think it’s also helpful to acknowledge that resting and sleeping in a bit is also a good use of time. Somedays I sleep a little longer and skip exercising because I need more rest. It’s not a hard and fast rule waking up before my kids, but it is ideal, and it’s what I aim for.

Carly from DesertHomeschoolDays.com