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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is the worst thing about parenting small children?

529 replies

Iheartherain · 05/05/2023 05:28

5 bloody am.

I thought the clocks going forward had reverted us to a more civilised wake-up time of around 6, but no.

Please don’t give advice as a year or more of trying to fix this hasn’t worked 😅 but honestly it is pretty miserable. I can’t have hobbies in an evening or watch ‘adult’ TV or nights out or date nights if we got a babysitter.

I am sick of being tired and yawning, fat because I seek sugar to boost my energy and always have a headache. It’s shit.

OP posts:
napody · 05/05/2023 06:33

Yup, it's the worst. It's the fact it's every. Bloody. Day.

evuscha · 05/05/2023 06:33

Questionquestionqu · 05/05/2023 05:37

No the worst thing is when they wake at 5am AND go 'let's pretend I'm a horse and you're the horse's sister' 😑

Very much something my DD would say 😂

Tinybrother · 05/05/2023 06:38

NCgoingdry · 05/05/2023 06:29

I'm dreading this. Those years are upon us so soon and I think the only reason I've survived parenthood so far is because once 8pm comes I can throw myself on the sofa and fully switch off from being mum for a couple of hours.

Show quote history

I am looking forward to it - I’m a morning person when I only have to look after myself at 5am!

RoseLarkin · 05/05/2023 06:39

Yes, it's the worst. It felt so relentless for years with DD, she started school in September and it did improve slightly (6am rather than 5) but thankfully she's old enough to go downstairs on her own/with DS if he's awake in the mornings now. It's the main thing that puts me off having a third baby!

Bigbus · 05/05/2023 06:39

My eldest DD was the same until we got this clock with a cow on it that was asleep until 7am then changed to light up a picture of an awake cow - it took 3 days for her to get the hang of it and stay in bed until the cow woke up. I used to say if the house was burning down I would save the kids, the cats and the cow clock. It saved my life!

Now they are all teenagers and would sleep until lunchtime! It does get better, but at the time it feels like it will never end. It’s lonely being up at 5am with a small child.

Tinybrother · 05/05/2023 06:43

evuscha · 05/05/2023 06:32

Mine is able to sleep til 8 which is glorious, but her bedtime is a bit insane, often around 10pm… There is no winning in this game.
Move their bedtime to later if you want them to wake up later.

Never worked for us.

niclw · 05/05/2023 06:44

I feel your pain. My 4 year old started to wake at 4am every morning when the clocks changed in March. Thankfully we are back to 5-5.30. But it's affecting diet too. Im so exhausted that by the time he is in bed and I get round to cooking my dinner I have zero energy so have something convenient that I can just shove in the oven. My son eats his meals at nursery and just has a snack when he gets home otherwise I'd cook then for both of us. My weight just keeps going up as a result. He starts school soon so I plan on walking to collect him from after school club so hopefully that will help wear him out and sleep longer plus help me lose weight.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 05/05/2023 06:44

Iheartherain · 05/05/2023 05:47

Someone always has to say teens are worse but I’m honestly failing to see it? I mean that IS shit, but was it every single night, without fail?

😂😂😂
How old are they OP 2 & 4 ?

Allschoolsareartschools · 05/05/2023 06:46

Questionquestionqu · 05/05/2023 05:37

No the worst thing is when they wake at 5am AND go 'let's pretend I'm a horse and you're the horse's sister' 😑

Oh sorry, I do remember what it's like but this gave me such a good laugh!😁

shoulditbethishard1 · 05/05/2023 06:48

takealettermsjones · 05/05/2023 05:43

The worst thing is the random screaming in the night. And then they go peacefully back to sleep and have no recollection of it in the morning, whereas you're awake from 4am with one eye twitching.

Omg I thought this was just my child 😳

yes the random sleep screaming is special

PortiasBiscuit · 05/05/2023 06:48

The worst thing about small children is that they grow into teenagers who have to sit A-levels!

Noicant · 05/05/2023 06:49

SalmonEile · 05/05/2023 06:15

I feel this in my soul

Show quote history

Yup my 3 year old likes to gently wake us by kicking open our door and then bouncing up and down on one of us screaming “HORSEY”.

OP I absolutely sympathise, DD has always been a not great sleeper, we had the waking up in the middle of the night for 3 hours thing. I hated the 5am wake up call it was brutal. She has got better as she gets older though.

AlltheFs · 05/05/2023 06:53

Mine has to be woken up, she’s a 9pm-9am person. No evenings here but plenty of sleep.
I know I have a good deal but mornings are so stressful.

BigButtons · 05/05/2023 06:54

Iheartherain · 05/05/2023 05:47

Someone always has to say teens are worse but I’m honestly failing to see it? I mean that IS shit, but was it every single night, without fail?

Teen stuff is different. They are up all evening or if they are out you worry about them getting home safely. There is no peace when you have teens- except some brief time in the morning when they are still asleep.

NameChange900 · 05/05/2023 06:55

takealettermsjones · 05/05/2023 05:43

The worst thing is the random screaming in the night. And then they go peacefully back to sleep and have no recollection of it in the morning, whereas you're awake from 4am with one eye twitching.

Mine is going through this now.......

Heatherbell1978 · 05/05/2023 06:55

Iheartherain · 05/05/2023 05:28

5 bloody am.

I thought the clocks going forward had reverted us to a more civilised wake-up time of around 6, but no.

Please don’t give advice as a year or more of trying to fix this hasn’t worked 😅 but honestly it is pretty miserable. I can’t have hobbies in an evening or watch ‘adult’ TV or nights out or date nights if we got a babysitter.

I am sick of being tired and yawning, fat because I seek sugar to boost my energy and always have a headache. It’s shit.

Yes it's shit. DS (now 8) used to wake at 4.30 for months, gradually move to 5, 5.30...,but always too fucking early. Then we had DD who was exactly the same. I swear for about 6 years I had no sleep. Then just when we came out of it I hit peri menopause and now have insomnia. So I have a 6 and 8 year old who sleep but I don't!! Argh....

MathsNervous · 05/05/2023 06:56

swedex · 05/05/2023 05:43

The best bit is when they get to an age where they stay up as late as you so you don't get an evening and so you decide getting up early is the only way to get any time to yourself!😬

This 😂😂

FancyCurtains · 05/05/2023 06:57

Unless you’ve got very good blackout curtains they will wake up when the sun rises. At this time of year it’s 5am. Get a good blackout blind and blackout lined curtains on top.

Tinybrother · 05/05/2023 06:58

FancyCurtains · 05/05/2023 06:57

Unless you’ve got very good blackout curtains they will wake up when the sun rises. At this time of year it’s 5am. Get a good blackout blind and blackout lined curtains on top.

Hahaha at captain solutions. Like people don’t know this basic stuff. Some children just wake early

Saniflo · 05/05/2023 07:00

My 3 year old woke up at 5am and asked Alexa to play "Hakuna Matata" on every single one of the six Alexas in our house.

Original poster
Iheartherain · 05/05/2023 07:06

Look, if you’re struggling with your teen, I’m genuinely sorry but will you please make your own fucking thread!?

I have no doubt whatsoever that whatever I am going through, it’s worse for you. But you know what? I AM STILL REALLY STRUGGLING! And funnily enough, being told how much worse it’s going to be in fifteen years time doesn’t fill my heart with gladness Confused

Anyway, I know I sound like an arse now but one year later and do people honestly not think we’ve tried back out curtains and gro clocks and earlier bedtimes and later bedtimes and offerings to the gods and human sacrifices and naked rain dances in the full moon?

OP posts:
Magnoliasandtulips · 05/05/2023 07:06

I’m exactly the same- one of the only positives is that I put no expectations on the 2 hours before 7am. Ie my 2 yr old gets a banana and easy cereal, tv on, no chores. I’m basically just trying to keep my other daughter asleep and keep the time as chilled as possible before a long day!

hearthelp · 05/05/2023 07:07

Questionquestionqu · 05/05/2023 05:37

No the worst thing is when they wake at 5am AND go 'let's pretend I'm a horse and you're the horse's sister' 😑

This! 🤣🤣🤣

Original poster
Iheartherain · 05/05/2023 07:08

@Magnoliasandtulips what’s really annoying is he is so grumpy because he’s exhausted. So this morning he’s cried for daddy then mummy, wanted me to read a book then cried when I read the book, wanted Raa Raa on CBeebies then cried when Raa Raa came on … I’m about ready to flip and it isn’t even ten past fucking seven!

OP posts:
Tinybrother · 05/05/2023 07:09

It’s ok OP, you specifically put “the worst thing about parenting small children” in the title - not the worst thing about parenting ever! Everybody knows that different ages of children have different challenges.