Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

Is it acceptable to carry on sleeping after a nightshift when my 7 yo goes out to play

19 replies

espares · 22/10/2008 10:38

Hi
Just wondering about this as I work nightshifts and I feel very tired and run down after doing them and good for nothing.
Usually in school holidays my ds will just sit next to me on the sofa watching telly while I sleep.
Howvere now he has a group of friends who call for him in our street.
Do you think its okay for me to carry on sleeping on the sofa while my ds is out playing they usally just ride up and down the path or go into each others gardens including mine and play.
Would I be a lousy mother for doing this he would only have to ring the doorbell and I would be up.
what do you think if I keep him in for safety sake he just gets bored been stuck in with a tired mom.
Do you also think its okay to sleep on the sofa with my ds watching telly next to me.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

RubyRioja · 22/10/2008 10:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

compo · 22/10/2008 10:40

the sleepingon the sofa with him wathcing tv counds abit boring, how long do you need to sleep for?
could you oragnaise for him to go to someone's house to play anwhile you sleep and then later have said friend over to you

Original poster

espares · 22/10/2008 10:44

It doesn,t always work like that for me compo
I only really know moms from his school with ds's of the same age and its always me who arranges playdates etc does the running etc.
I usually find I need at least 4 hours sleep.
I have put him on playshemes but its the cost all of the time.
He can go to my mom and dads but they are elderly don,t drive and he gets bored there and just watches telly.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

SixSpotBonfire · 22/10/2008 10:47

What time do you get in after your shift? Could you agree with DS that he will stay at home while you sleep in the morning but then go out to play in the afternoon? Or vice versa? Or could he have one friend round to play in the house and garden only while you nap?

It sounds very tough for you, I would be on my knees!

ilove · 22/10/2008 10:48

No, it isn't. No different to you leaving him out on the streets while you're in bed. The fact he has to ring the doorbell to get in, is he locked out? You need to sort out proper arrangements.

Original poster

espares · 22/10/2008 10:50

I get in at 8.00am I could try your suggestion you know what children are like though if their friends call they want out there and then, and then I feel guilty for keeping him in to just sit next to me sleeping.

OP posts:

witchandchips · 22/10/2008 10:50

I think its probably okay but would want to check with the other parents so they knew not to rely on your keeping an eye out. You could offer to keep an eye out later on in the day when you'd caught up on your sleep so they could go shopping. Once you'd done this you could relax a bit more + get a bit more rest

btw i think its great that your ds has friends in the street to play out with

SixSpotBonfire · 22/10/2008 10:52

Do you know the parents of the other kids he plays out with? Do they live in the same street? Could you maybe arrange for one of the other mothers to be responsible, so that if your DS has any problem or just needs help with something, he knows to go there, and the other mother keeps a bit of an eye out for them?

Original poster

espares · 22/10/2008 10:52

He is not locked out but I do tell him to ring when he has a stream of friends with him instead of them just all walking through the house when they please. tbh its my dh who hates that.

OP posts:

Original poster

espares · 22/10/2008 10:55

I do know them but only just I sort of feel a bit cheeky asking them to keep an eye on my ds as well silly I know.

OP posts:

compo · 22/10/2008 10:57

can't your dh take leave over half term?

Original poster

espares · 22/10/2008 10:58

His place is funny and they can only take holidays at certain times.
Full of problems I am.

OP posts:

SixSpotBonfire · 22/10/2008 11:00

I think I would ask them, espares, on the basis that you could return the favour later on, in the afternoon or whatever .

Original poster

espares · 22/10/2008 11:05

Okay I could try I know with 2 of the friends its the nan who is with them all of the time while the parents are out at work.
She seems friendly enough so maybe she will not mind me asking.

OP posts:

Geepers · 22/10/2008 11:06

I would absolutely not sleep while my seven year old was out playing. Actually, my 7 year old is only allowed to play in teh garden, so I would, but no way out on a public street.

Flum · 22/10/2008 11:07

Yeah I think playing out is ok at 7 for a few hours. HOw would you being awake help, unless you intend to stand at window watching him for 3 hours!!!!

SixSpotBonfire · 22/10/2008 11:08

Good luck, espares . Hope it works out.

Gobbledigook · 22/10/2008 11:10

I, personally, would not let ds1 (7) outside on his own where I couldn't see him. Then again, we don't live on the kind of road you can do this so the opportunity has never arisen.

I'd sleep if he was in the house though because I know he'd glue himself to the playstation

Flum · 22/10/2008 11:11

To be honest - something could happen, of course but it is great to buck the trend and allow kids to be exposed to reasonable risks.

At 7 he will be perfectly capable of being aware of road safety, stranger danger etc and also with lots of other kids. Thsi freedom is what childhood is all about.

Or you could let him sit on the sofa and rot his brain in front of TV and get fat...... i think playing out is waaaaaaaay better and probably less risky!!

Flip