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Any other night owls adjusting abysmally to being a parent?

11 replies

Twoddle · 15/01/2009 12:29

I know, I know. I have to take responsibility for myself and just go to bed early. But when I do, I toss and turn and sleep doesn't happen. If I go to bed at 1am, I will fall asleep. The problem is that DS (four) will wake up a bit before or after 7am (pretty civilised, I know), by which time I've had less than six hours' sleep. I realise this is more than mums of babies are getting. But after four years, being a couple of hours down every night is knackering. I'm exhausted.

Are there any other nocturnal types like me (I've been like this since secondary school age, and my dad's the same) who have managed to transform into larks since becoming parents? How do you effectively change your body clock? I feel like shit.

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DaftMule · 15/01/2009 14:46

Have to say that if you are getting 5 or 6 hours sleep without disturbance, I envy you! However, that said, I presume you have tried the usual methods for relaxing yourself towards going to sleep earlier than usual....warm drink, maybe a relaxing bath, read for half an hour before switching the light out etc.

May be a slight generalisation but I think women have a far harder time than men when it comes to switching off the brain at night...certainly the case with my wife anyway. Me...I go to bed and am out in pretty short order. But then that could just be that I have a very small brain to switch of...lol

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choosyfloosy · 15/01/2009 14:50

I know exactly what you mean. but it has to be done.

the fact is, i loathe lying awake, and often feel very down when I do so. However, if I'm honest, it frequently only takes 30 mins for me to fall asleep. Feels like an aeon, but actually isn't that long, and if it means I'm asleep by 11, when I started going to bed at 10, it means everything goes better.

Two possibilities: 1. have more sex - at least it means you're not just going to bed to, er, boringly go to bed. I sleep better afterwards too. 2. sleep in a separate room from your partner and read before you go to bed. Put a lamp on a timer switch so it clicks off at 10.50 though.

best of luck - I do have trouble with this myself.

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ThornyRose · 15/01/2009 15:05

I am an owl. DH is a lark.

I cannot sleep much before 1am (sometimes its more like 3am) no matter how tired I am. It is hard work. I wake some mornings and have no energy to do anything.
Before dd I used to get up at 4.30am and start work at 5am. But that was ok because I could catch up with sleep when I finished.

I thought that when dd was born and I would be home, my sleep would be improved. WRONG. I feel worse than ever. It was actually better when she was a newborn because at least she had long sleeps. Now she has one nap and I have to get everything done whilst she is asleep that I cant do when she is awake so no chance to catch up.

I don't know if it will get any easier, I doubt it. I do know that I will not be able to adjust my bodyclock - I am a night owl forever. And winding down ealier doesnt help. Nor does a bath. Nor does sex.

I sympathise

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BananaSkin · 19/01/2009 22:56

I'm the same. I come alive at about 9pm - a total pain.

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Tortoise · 19/01/2009 23:01

I am the same. Except i have 4 kids to get up and ready for school! I have started going to bed before 11 more often but struggle to get to sleep much before 12. Playing a game on my mobile helps me feel more tired and stops me thinking about anything and everything!
I really find it hard to get out of bed. I love school holidays!

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skramble · 19/01/2009 23:04

My children were taught from an early age to get up and switch on TV themselves. DS now get up himself and has breakfast (he's 12), I asked if he wants me to be up He says no, I think I am too grumpy. I do get up before he goes for the bus and make sure he is all sorted out.

Love weekends, kids amuse themselves until I get up, I come down to find them curled up in their duvets watching a good film so I snuggle in with them and thats us for as long as we can get away with it .

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Tortoise · 19/01/2009 23:07

skramble thats what weekends are like here. Except i sleep downstairs on a futon sofa bed at the moment which makes it even harder to get up!

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skramble · 19/01/2009 23:18

Its crap if I have to work at the weekends, I leaveabout 11ish and have to get the kids ready too, I am always late but don't think I could get away with explaining that we were getting to a good bit of Cool Runnings and we were all so comfy

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roofer · 26/01/2009 20:10

hey hey i like to play scrabble aswell/
am cool
oooooh ye

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roofer · 26/01/2009 20:11

skramble,just say say say ma kids

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roofer · 26/01/2009 20:11

skramble,just say say say ma kids

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