To think that I can have a lie in as a single parent?

[PaintedFaces]

I have a 4 and 6 year old and I have started work full time, I am so tired and it takes ages for me to fall asleep.

I've told my children that when they wake up to leave me asleep and go downstairs and play nicely but wake me up if they need me. I don't sleep in but they are usually up at 6am so during the holidays it would be nice to get an extra hour or so sleep in the mornings.

I've left a snack and juice out for them in the living room, the cooker is turned off at the switch, doors are locked and cleaning products etc are locked away. I've also told them not to go into the kitchen in the morning just as an added precaution.

They have got plenty of toys to play with and they are brilliant at amusing themselves so I feel as though this would be safe to do however my DM has criticised this and said that I shouldn't do it and now I'm doubting myself.

WIBU to do this?

Honestly? 4 and 6 year old by yourself? I'd do whatever I needed to get a little rest. As long as they know to wake you if needed it'll be fine (and I am insane about safety etc .. like really over the top!)

Yanbu.

Tbh, I would let them play in their rooms but not downstairs alone at 4 and 6. Unlikely they would get into trouble nut personally I wouldn't relax enough to sleep.

Mine won't let me it's horrible! So I go back to sleep on the sofa with them.

Ooh, I’m unsure. I really appreciate that you need the sleep but 6 and 4 feel a bit young to me. In the past I have got the kids to come into my bed with me (at 6am when they wake) and get them to snuggle up and watch a film while I snooze a bit longer, knowing we are all safe together. A good Disney will give you another 90 mins of shut eye while they snuggle up in the warmth with you there

Yes that's fine. We use our gro clock which we've had since they were toddlers and we say if they wake up before the sun is up they have to play quietly in their rooms. They would be fine downstairs too but I avoid them going down because I don't want them to try making breakfast.

I always used to play with my barbies / draw / watch tv in the morning on weekends while my single mum had some rest. It's fine.

Yanbu at all.

When I was growing up that was what TVs were for. To entertain children who woke up ridiculously early in the mornings, so they wouldn't wake sleeping grown ups.
(Which is why if I were you, I'd put Cbeebies on before I went to sleep, so when your kids wake up they find the TV on and have a ready made thing to do to entertain themselves)

I taught DS to either come into me and climb into bed with me and watch cartoons, or to play quietly in the lounge room. It's never been an issue, but he's not really the get up to mischief type, just happy to play with his own toys.

Depends what they are like really. Could you get up with them and just doze on the sofa, I’ve been guilty of doing this!

I used to go downstairs and watch tv as soon as i woke up, probably about 30-60 minutes by myself at 4/5 years old.

The only problems were I once cut my hair (not a lot, but noticeable!) and put my cereal into a pan of cold water and sloshed it round pretending to cook it, made quite a mess!

I used to post paper into the VCR slot but I doubt you'll have that problem these days!

I do this all the time! Kids are 5 & 4. :)

I can't fall asleep again if I get out of bed, it's really strange I've never been able to do it.

Your replies are really helpful, the ones for it and against it so thank you for being honest.

They are sensible and they play lovely together so I wouldn't be worried about leaving them to play, it's my DM that has put doubts in my head about it so I wanted see if it was a reasonable thing to consider doing.

YANBU I tell DS (6) to sit quietly on his tablet in the mornings so I can grab the extra half an hour. It makes all the difference.

There have been a few threads about this lately, the vast majority of people either do this or would if their kids let them - with varying degrees of what their kids are allowed to do, get, eat.

Kids always seem younger when they’re someone else’s and younger still when they’re your grandchildren. Your Mum is wrong, but probably means well. If she keeps banging on about it, tell her she’s welcome to have them every Saturday night 😉

YANBU

I see no problem with this at all. You definitely deserve a rest and it also encourages them to full their own time and use their imagination.

If my DC's are alone like that we have a rule of drinks only because I worry about choking. I know I'm just upstairs but it's me being super cautious.

I think if the house is safe and you can hear them there isn't a problem.

This is completely normal IMO and I did it when my DS was 4. He was sensible and tended to watch TV, I would have been over the moon if he'd played with toys instead but I felt like a bit of TV wasn't the end of the world!

My mum was a lone parent and being awake before the grown ups in the morning always seemed like such an exciting special treat

Ive got great memories of being 6, and my sister 4 (I know by which house we lived in) and taking our quilts downstairs and watching Happy Days followed by Wacaday Saturday. Early morning TV at the time. I assume my parents were sleeping (refuse to discuss any other alternative), and it certainly didn’t harm us! Enjoy the sleep.

Completely fine. Please don't feel bad about it

I think 4 and 6 is a bit young, though appreciate you are knackered. How about them playing in their room for an hour, it's close by?

I don't think you're being unreasonable as I'm sure you know you're own children and how sensible they are etc. The only thing I would say though - although admittedly I'm over anxious/Ott about this due to past experience - is please be wary of the possibility of them choking on their snacks. Could they do without the snack? Or would one of them know to wake you immediately if the other is choking?

Again I don't think you are bu as I'd do anything for a little extra sleep in your position too.