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with Nataly
Hi, I am Nataly and I am the co-founder of Work It, Mom!
I write the daily Work It, Mom! Blog where I talk about issues affecting working moms, goings on in our Work It, Mom! community, new site features, updates,and contests. I also share my own juggle between work and family and love to see members jump in with comments. Come and visit often!
Nataly's profile on Work It, Mom!
It’s 8am on Saturday morning. My daughter is with my parents, who were kind enough to take her to breakfast and to a museum (”I want to go to the playground!” “Sweetie, it’s 15 degrees out because someone forgot to tell the weather that it’s only NOVEMBER so grandma and grandpa probably won’t like to stand outside in freezing cold.”) My husband is working on something in the basement (let’s just say it’s a project which has been almost done for about a year.)
And yet, here I am, up and awake, and definitely not sleeping in.
It’s definitely not because I don’t need more sleep; by all measures I sleep less than I am supposed to and I am often tired. It’s also not because I have something burning to do. Yes, I have some work to catch up on and some cooking to get done for our friends coming over tonight, but I can definitely do that later. So why in the world am I not sleeping!?
It’s your guess as much as mine, at this point. Getting up at 7am at the latest for the last four and a half years since my daughter was born has definitely done something to my internal clock, making it difficult to actually stay asleep past 7 even if I try. I also — here comes the “g” monster - feel guilty about sleeping in. Well, not today, when daughter is off happy with her grandparents, but on days when my husband offers to get up with her and let me sleep more. I know I shouldn’t. I know I should jump on the opportunity. I know everyone would be happier if I do. But I rarely do. (My husband says the only times I’ve done it is when my exhausted body won over my annoying mind.)
Do you ever sleep in on weekends? Do you trade off sleeping in with your spouse or partner? Am I the only nut out there feeling guilty about this?
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Sounds like the “g” monster is making life more difficult then it should be.
Vera Babayeva | November 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I can’t do it but it’s not guilt. It’s more the list of things to do in my head that is pushing me up. Also, when there isn’t too much to do or I’m just willful- I just take the time to blog or read or enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee! I also find that, even when tired, I don’t want to go to bed so I can just enjoy my adult/alone time!
starrlife | November 22nd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
oh yeah, I gave up the sleeping thing when the kids were born, 7.5 years ago. I miss it!
Can’t even do it when away with hubby for the weekend, how unfair is that??!!
BUT, my childless friends all say they can’t sleep in either, so it’s AGE not KIDS. That for some weird reason makes me feel better: no one is sleeping in anymore!
Gretchen | November 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Sleep in- what’s that.
Saturdays and Sundays- lucky to sleep into 7 a.m.- that would be late for me. Can’t lay in bed for hours anymore. Body will tell me when I’ve been in bed for too long. Most mornings up way too early-even for me. Guess one of the downsides of getting older.
And yes go to sleep thinking about what needs to be done when I get up the next day. Think it’s just a mother thing.
I do try to sleep for at least an half or whole hour during the day because some days I’m up by 4 a.m. and that way can make it through the day and do what I’m supposed to.
Guess their will be time to sleep in when we are all older. My Mother always said this will be the happiest times of you life when your children are growing up. So I guess-alittle less sleep is a fair price to pay.
eileen | November 23rd, 2008 at 11:23 am
It is a bit weird…I have never been able to sleep in - always up at 5:30 like clockwork. I don’t even have to set an alarm clock, although I do because I’d be too paranoid about oversleeping. Lately, though, I’ve been extra tired (I think my impending job loss) and have actually been sleeping in…even if I’m not sleep, I’ll stay in bed and rest some on the weekends.
Jen S | November 23rd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
The husband and I split the weekend. One of us gets up with the boys on Saturday and the other on Sunday. Sleeping in doesn’t last much past 9:30, but the 2 or so extra alone hours are wonderful. I used to feel great amounts of guilt for sleeping in, but one morning I got out of bed and listened at the top of the stairs to the three of them playing. They were having so much fun. My oldest commented on how fun it was to have Daddy-only time and how it would be fun tomorrow with only Mommy.
I say take the few extra hours even if you don’t sleep do something for yourself. Giving my husband a morning to himself helps a lot with the guilt of taking one for myself.
klg | November 23rd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Let’s see, I’m a single mom and my kids are 2 - out of diapers but not old enough to be trusted running around the house alone. I have to get up at 7:30 or 8am just to avoid changing sheets. If we were all out late the night before, I might get a few extra zzz’s, but that’s about it.
I am so not a morning person. I have a friend who has kindly offered to take care of my kids’ morning routine a few times in the year they have been home. It’s nice, but then I can’t get to sleep at night and I’m in an even lower level of hell the next morning.
So what I’d like to know is, when will my kids be old enough to wake up and putz around the house without getting themselves in trouble? I am really looking forward to that day.
SKL | November 23rd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I get up at 5:30 during the workweek, so sleeping until 7 is sleeping in for me. I actually prefer a nap to a major sleep-in. it seems more satisfying.
Daisy | November 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Lately I’ve been getting up early on weekends, which is bizarre not only because I’ve never in my life woken up early for anything but also because I’m waking up at least an hour earlier than I do on weekdays, when I actually have to go to work! Crazy! I think I’m just more motivated to wake up when it means I can lounge around for a while and then take care of all my around-the-house projects, which is much more fun that waking up and heading immediately into the office. Still…waking up EARLY on weekends?! That’s not like me at all!
Leah | November 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I get to sleep in on weekends-usually to 6:30 or so. I get up at 5 am during the week, but usually can’t sleep past 4.
ramseyquipp | November 24th, 2008 at 7:17 am
On weekdays, I have to get up no later than 5:30 am. Do I sleep in on the weekends? HELL YES.
Robyn | November 24th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I sleep in sometimes. But once I hear someone in the kitchen - even if it is just my husband - I’m awake. I don’t always get out of bed, but I don’t usually get back to sleep either.
Jenni | November 24th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
We get up EARLIER on weekends than during the week, especially during the summer, to get to the barn. Instead of looking forward to sleeping in, I look forward to going to bed early!
Caryn | November 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pm