to expect a 8.5yr old to wake up at 6.15am to get ready for school because of my selfish needs...

[nessus]

I need to get her to the childminder for 7ish so I can get the 7.34am train to work on time.

Even as I write I feel sad for DD and it hasn't even happened yet

Worse still, I don't drive so it would be a daily brisk 15min walk whilst most children are still dreaming in bed! (We do this daily anyway but normally 90mins later!)

If only I could find a registered au-pair

I feel so guilty to be even considering it so please tell me I am evil to be even considering it so I can stop!

It sounds fine to me. My DD is 3.9 and I have been waking her at 6.25 to get her to nursery/Kindergarten by 7.15 since she was 2. It's just a matter of making sure she goes to bed early enough the night before. The only downside is that she now wakes up at the same time at the weekend when, of course, I would very much like her to sleep much longer ...zzzzzzzzz.....

OP - don't beat yourself up about it. DD has been in this situation for years, bless her, and she has to get up at 6am. She is emphatically not a morning person, but she makes up for it at weekends when she can sleep in until whenever if she hasn't got anything planned.

And don't consider it your selfish needs - it's in order to go to work, not to go and get your highlights done! It's a necessity! Don't feel guilty.

Hi

YANBU imo - My kids are up at 630am every day anyway, by choice! I get up at 615, we are just early risers. Sometimes it would be nice if they stayed in bed a tiny bit later at the week end but they don't and they survive. They go to bed earlier than a lot of their friends but it works for us so it's fine.

SG

My Ds gets us up at 6.30am I don't think its totally out of order.
I shall give you a sob story. I used to be woken at 6am, washed and dressed in school uniform, breakfast I think (I was 5 yrs old)
Mum & Dad went to work leaving me in a chair to nap until a neighbour's eldest kid, knock for me to take me to school. (I lived in a shared house other adults around)Now thinking about it where did my baby brother go! Must ask Mum! I turned out okay! Apart from being a lazy cow now!

could you cycle to childminder then to station? It could save you a lot of time; you could leave childminder at 7.15 (say) instead of 7am, and DD could stay in bed until 6.45 to leave at 7am.

put DD on a tag-along if she is still a bit sleepy. Pack her school uniform & toothbrush up, to get dressed & have breakfast there, (or leave a week's worth at childminder) and let her put on coat over PJs?

I can't see a problem here. My two are up at 6.15am each day as we leave for school at 7am. School starts at 7.30am here in Singapore so everyone is up early. You get used to it and you go to bed on time Sunday to Thursday. You go to bed late and have a lie in Friday and Saturday. Works fine here.

i think it is easier to do now that it is in the middle of winter.

6.15 is light atm but i pity you trying to get them out of bed at that time in winter...but needs must and i dont think it is too early.....althoug my DD would have a hissy fit if i tried to disturb her before 8am

The first few days might be hard, but eventually she'll start falling asleep earlier and so it'll become normal for her.

My dc1's school starts at 8.30 and I've no car and we have to walk over a mile, so we have to set out at about 7.50. We get up at about 6.45! The PLUS side is, I put her to bed at 7pm and she's ZZZZzzzzz by 7.20 most nights. Other people with kids the same age can't believe it.

Wehn my dc1 was in reception I used to push her in a crappy little old buggy. People used to sniff, as she was nearly five, but they were dropping off their children in cars, so I ignored any comments about five yr olds in buggies.

Don't worry about it.
There are children in the third world getting up at day break to walk for to the well for water.
You're DD will be fine. She is loved, cherrished and well looked after. An early start is hardly going to ruin her life. .

its hardly selfish needs

you need to go to work to put a roof over you and your dd head and pay bills

might take a week or 2 to settle into a routine but sure will be fine

i like the idea of saving time and cycling from cm to station and back again - so you may be able to drop off later, say 7.15

least it is in the summer and easier to get up

Thank you all for the great suggestions and supportive words!

I LOVE the idea of cycling in the morning (in fact we were talking about this yesterday great minds and all) and I should be able lock the bike up at the station if I can't take it on the train with me. I just need to learn to ride a bike in the mean-time! Wonder if they sell adult bikes with training wheels....

I also like the idea of having a stash of school clothes at the childminder so she could get ready there without me being a shrilling ogre Will ask the childminders I am interviewing this coming week how they would feel about this.

I am so pleased I put it out there for all because I am now feeling so positive about it all - the difference a couple of days can make!