Join the Slice of Life Challenge
I think my thirteen-year-old daughter needs a morning routine. Our mornings are a bit rough, to say the least. I'm sprouting new gray hair each day.
We've tried lots of different options over the 9 years she's been attending school. Nothing works. She's really hard to motivate and get up in the morning. We've tried the radio, buzzing alarms, and pulling her out of bed. This year I spent $80 on a light that gets brighter over 30 minutes and sounds like birds chirping.
She still has to be coaxed, coerced and/or dragged from her bed each weekday.
(Guess who gets up early on her own on the weekend?)
Here's how our mornings have sounded lately:
Me: "Good morning, A! It sounds like an enchanted forest in here! Time to get rolling!"
A: Grrrrrrrrrrrr!
5 minutes later
Me: "I already asked you to get out of bed. It's time to get up. Let's go!"
A: Mmmmmppppffffff!
5 minutes later
Me: "It's time to get UP! I now have your PHONE in my HAND. You will GET UP NOW or the phone is GONE for 24 hours!"
A now slides out of her bed, grumbling, and walks to the bathroom.
Hmmm.... now that I've put this in print, I believe we already have a routine. I think someone has me trained!
Me: Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Sorry to hear about your struggle. This week for our article for the article of the week we read this article Getting Enough Sleep. Here is the link. I was suprised by my ninth graders response. I learned all about how they are struggling and they owned up to their part. We have decided to deal with the rising sun issues and keep the blinds open in the morning. I am still enjoyed the bliss of having an 8 year old who often gets up at 5 am with me. Good luck! http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2006/09/getting-enough-sleep-3/
ReplyDeleteAhhh, teenage mornings. I DON'T MISS THEM! And teaching teenagers all day, my only advice would be to tell her once and then let her be late on her own (unless she rides the bus and then you have to take her to school). As much as I love teaching them, I truly, don't envy anyone raising teenagers. I, at least, get to send them home at the end of the day! Kind of like a grandparent!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I should tell you this, but my 18 year old daughter and I go through almost the exact same routine every morning. It will be interesting to see how she manages this in college next year!
ReplyDeleteI loved your realization by the end! Grrrrr! I don't look forward to this stage at all! And times two! Double grrrrr! Fun slice, not so fun routine.
ReplyDeleteThis seems very familiar to me. I used to have a really rough time getting up in the morning (sometimes I still do), but when I came to college it changed. I was on my own, knowing that my parents wouldn't be there to make sure I got up, so I immediately took on that role myself. The change happens over time, but there is hope! :) Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the ending where you realized you do have a routine and she may have trained you. Teenagers...
ReplyDeleteOh, the trials of raising teenagers. I think those must be the things we block out as we get older. There are times when we just have to let them do it themselves. It's part of the "parental test". No words of wisdom, just hang in there - it will get better. I feel your frustration. Grrrr.
ReplyDeleteYikes! I had lots of these mornings when my two boys were in middle school. Now that they are in high school, actually almost out of high school, life is much easier-- they get themselves up, they drive themselves to school, and most mornings they actually make it on time! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteMy mornings as a teen consisted of setting my alarm for an hour earlier than I actually needed to be up so that I could snooze and feel like I was getting extra sleep, but by the 3rd or 4th time getting out of bed to hit the snooze button I'd be too awake to go back to sleep and get to enjoy a little extra shower time in the morning.
ReplyDeleteHere's to hoping you find something that makes getting going a little easier.