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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Crafts at 6am?

50 replies

upsoearly · 04/02/2011 16:41

My 2-year-old is an early waker - currently usually up at 6am, and for now I have concluded there is not a lot I can do about it so am gritting my teeth and getting up with her.

However, she is a bit obsessed with painting, cutting, sticking and all that artsy fartsy stuff, which is not my strong point at the best of times and especially not at 6am. A couple of days ago I was almost begging her to watch CBeebies for a while so I could come round slowly with a cup of coffee, but she was not impressed with the idea at all (until very recently I was by the way not a big fan of kids' TV, but times change...)

So, AIBU to find myself sitting half-awake at the kitchen table at 6am, while she paints and sticks and generally creates a lovely mess?

OP posts:

seeker · 04/02/2011 16:43

Yes, you are being very very unreasonable. You should move the table next to a comfortable sofa and put your feet up while she paints and sticks.

waitwhat · 04/02/2011 16:44

YANBU
My son gets up at 6:30 and i have him cooking muffins,biscuits ect while i sit at the table and encourage him only getting up to help with the oven.
Anything that makes mornings less horrific is a good thing

niceday · 04/02/2011 16:45

Why are you asking? You do what you do with your 2yo at home. How can it be more or less unreasonable then CBBs?

FlamingoBingo · 04/02/2011 16:45

YANBU but get a comfy chair in the kitchen and go with it!

JarethTheGoblinKing · 04/02/2011 16:45

Yes, YABU.

CBeebies and a kip on the sofa in this house.. anything else would have been snarled at

(DS was a 4:30am waker, btw.. it was HELL. I have very often queried CBeebies for only starting at 6am)

iamamug · 04/02/2011 16:45

Dear Lord - who is in charge in your house?
She is 2 FFS! If she's up fair enough - been there, done that. But on MY terms.
Sticking and painting - you're having a tin bath love!!

MorticiaAddams · 04/02/2011 16:46

Have you tried play-doh? It's a lot less messy and still creative.

coatgate · 04/02/2011 16:47

Aren't there some fab programmes on C4 in a morning. Bear in the big blue house, noddy etc? My DD soon got a liking for those (but I am going back 9 or so years here)

mutznutz · 04/02/2011 16:49

Agrees with iamamug

Do what YOU want to do and not what your 2yr old dictates.

Original poster

upsoearly · 04/02/2011 16:54

You see, I had a sneaking feeling that iamamug and mutznutz's view would be the consensus. I have to admit to going along with what she wants at that time of day much more than I feel is really OK as I'm just not in the frame of mind for dealing with a tantrum...

On the other hand, I sort of feel that crafts are Wholesome and officially To Be Encouraged, so I shouldn't be fobbing her off with telly anyway.

OP posts:

Original poster

upsoearly · 04/02/2011 16:57

Morticia - yep, we do play-doh too sometimes, but for some reason that seems to require more input from me, so I'm not pushing it.

OP posts:

FlamingoBingo · 04/02/2011 16:58

Just do what works, bugger what everyone else thinks!

verytellytubby · 04/02/2011 16:59

Bloody hell not on my watch. Cbeebies or quiet play or nothing. No way would I be doing crafts at that time but I'm horrific in the mornings.

scrappydappydoo · 04/02/2011 17:06

You need an aquadraw - spread it on the carpet in living room and let her get on with it - my 2 yr old loves it - its crafty but not messy.

Original poster

upsoearly · 04/02/2011 17:10

ooh, that sounds good scrappy - thanks for the tip!

OP posts:

muggglewump · 04/02/2011 17:17

Jeezus, YABU and also should win mother of the years.

6am? crafts?

My house knows neither.

I don't favour 6am, in fact I tend to say 'hmph, shnoogle, phhyt, and if DD carries on, I may shriek say, 'FGS go away and leave me alone, I'm trying to sleep'.

Crafts?
Well maybe, sometimes, but I'm still not fond.
All it means is a shite gift and a mess on the carpet.

I'm just glad DD is 9 now and has a Nintendo DS. Not much call for craft these days and on the odd occasion she does want to I tell her she has to hoover herself.

Quenelle · 04/02/2011 17:17

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 04/02/2011 17:25

Upsoearly YABU because you are allowing her to rule the roost out of fear of a tanty - you need to stop that now or your life will be hell.

If you are a morning person & a craft person then 6am is fine for that.

If you are a reluctant 6am'er then you need to stop making 6am fun. It needs to be boring so that eventually she decides rolling over and going back to sleep is a good option. Have limited toys available and keep saying to her 'No, it's nightime you should still be asleep' when it is morning time we will do x. She plays with limited toys and you be very very boring napping on the settee in a dimly lit room. Make it boooooooring.

scrappydappydoo · 04/02/2011 17:26

here this version is good as it comes with stampers and a 'paintbrush' although you could probably find it cheaper elsewhere

scrappydappydoo · 04/02/2011 17:30

or yes what chipping said
although if you're anything like me you just don't have the energy to parent properly at silly o'clock am.
Luckily we dd1 for dd2 to wake up and play with

knitpicker · 04/02/2011 17:39

With aquadraw you could set it up on the floor beside your bed. Cutting and sticking things could also be done in your room, stay in bed and murmer encouragingly as required

muggglewump · 04/02/2011 18:23

I do have to agree with Chipping though.

My DD never got up so early, but I'm not sure if it's because she's like me, and loves sleeping in, or because the odd time she did, I told her in no uncertain terms I was not getting up.

Original poster

upsoearly · 04/02/2011 20:54

In my heart I know Chipping is right, which is why I posted this I guess, but I honestly don't have the will to enforce my will at that time in the morning. I am a crap parent.

OP posts:

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 04/02/2011 21:04

Upso - honestly, it wont take many morning of being boring to get her used to the idea that this is all that is being offered when it's still nighttime and that it's much better once it's morning. I know it seems daunting when you are tired and aren't a morning person - but it will pay off, honest. Just lay on the settee and 'No, it's night time, play with those toys or go back to bed - shhhhsh mummy is sleeping'.

undercovamutha · 04/02/2011 21:07

My DCs both get up at 6ish. This is fine in the week cos I also get up at about 6 for work.

However, this is not fine on the weekend. So when they get up they have always had the following option:

Get into bed with us for cuddles, and remain as quiet and still as possible.
Play in bedroom/cot without trashing the place.
Play in our bedroom quietly (toy box under our bed so we don't have to move!) - providing we don't need to move or assist in any way!

Me or DH getting up and indulging in any acitvity other than tea-making before 7.30am is just NOT going to happen.

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