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Step-parenting

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Original poster

Weekend morning routines

20 replies

Eisley · 08/04/2019 07:57

We have my step daughter every weekend and half the holidays. She's 6. When I first joined their little family the routine was that when she woke up she'd get into bed with her dad. When we moved in together we had a rule that she could play in her room until we got up (regular time, not massive lie ins lol). My partner is temporarily sleeping in the spare room as we have a newborn and since then she's been waking up at 7:30 and going into see him and asking to play on the PlayStation, then she's on there for hours. Which I'm uncomfortable with, he does know this. I was wondering what morning routines you have for your children at the weekends and holidays?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

nutsfornutella · 08/04/2019 10:40

What time is her Dad getting up? Think 7:30 is a very reasonable time for her to wake up and that Dad should be sorting out breakfast by say 8/8:30 so that the PlayStation session doesn't become hours.

Chocolateisfab · 08/04/2019 10:41

Imo they should be taking the baby for a walk eow so you can have a lie in!

Original poster

Eisley · 08/04/2019 11:22

To be fair dad is awesome, he does the 11-3/4ish shift with baby so I can sleep and then I do the next part.

OP posts:

Musicalstatues · 08/04/2019 11:24

If he’s up every night from 11-3/4 then I can understand why he might be struggling to get up at 7:30!

KittyInTheCradle · 08/04/2019 12:11

What is the problem with playing with playstation?

If everyone else is busy it seems she is keeping herself entertained by playing it until everyone is up and able to play with her

poppingoff · 08/04/2019 12:16

What part are you uncomfortable with? The PlayStation or going into her dad?

nutsfornutella · 08/04/2019 14:08

I think that it's normal for parents to snooze for an hour or so while the 6 yr old uses a screen but your h is pulling his weight during the night with a very young baby so it's understandable that he's not happily making breakfast at 7:30am (which would be reasonable if there wasn't a newborn in the house)

Snappedandfarted2019 · 08/04/2019 14:14

She’s still only small I don’t understand why she can’t have a cuddle with her dad.

Butterflyone1 · 08/04/2019 16:58

I can understand why you don't want a six year old playing computer games for hours on her own.

I'm a bit confused though why one of you is not up with her at 7:30am?

When we have the kids, our routine is the youngest (5) often wakes up at 7am. We ask her to go back to bed for a bit and not to wake her sister (9) as they share a room. When one of the other kids wakes up (usually 7:30-8) we invite them in for cuddles (usually the youngest two come in for a cuddle and oldest boy 12 goes downstairs to watch TV).

We then all get up and have breakfast together. Sometimes DP will go downstairs first and bring me a coffee in bed whilst I get myself dressed etc but often when the kids are up, we're all up.

HeckyPeck · 08/04/2019 16:58

I would think at least she’s not coming in to me and waking me/the baby!

Too much screen time is bad for kids, but if her partner doesn’t mind her being a screen zombie then I wouldn’t get involved. Unless it’s teally loud and waking you/the baby of course.

Original poster

Eisley · 08/04/2019 17:10

Thank you for all your replies, having a cuddle with dad is not an issue at all, it's lovely and something I think is great, it's just the being on the PlayStation because then when we all get up they play on it for ages together so her time on there has got considerably longer recently.

I wanted to see if anyone else had some good routines so I could steal their ideas.

OP posts:

SandyY2K · 08/04/2019 17:34

When we moved in together we had a rule that she could play in her room until we got up

Could you clarify if this means her coming in to bed with her dad stopped when you moved in?

I don't really see such an issue with the current situation, except the time they play together when he wakes up should be limited and not endless.

Perhaps if some colouring in or other non screen activities were made available for when she wakes up, that would limit the screen time.

KittyInTheCradle · 08/04/2019 18:59

Our routine at the weekend is normally, 5yo wakes up at 7, gets to play tablet until one of us gets up to do breakfast a bit later on. Then we will do something else e.g. painting, playing with something, park, feed pets (cute animals are a good distraction!) or whatever we want to do that day.

Hmm could be that your partner loves the PlayStation! Maybe they both need to be tempted with a fun activity haha, getting out a big canvas/paper and all doing a painting together?

It's going to be difficult though with the newborn, could be okay for you all to have a rest and not worry too much for a few months, as looking after baby will be take enough of your energy for the time being?

KittyInTheCradle · 08/04/2019 19:04

Sorry, should have said that one of us gets up not long after, or immediately if 5yo decides to play with one of us rather than tablet

Doyoumind · 08/04/2019 19:10

I don't think playing on the PlayStation for hours is great and would want to limit that. We have cuddles, maybe watch something short or play a quick game on tablet, have breakfast, get dressed and do something with the day.

Smoggle · 08/04/2019 19:14

What time is dad staying in bed til at weekends?

junebirthdaygirl · 08/04/2019 19:23

I think that is too long on the play station. DC will rarely come off by themselves as it's so attractive. She is actually quite young to be on a playstation. What game are they playing?
Ye need to take turns to get up with her. One on Sat one on Sunday. She is part of your family now.
When ours were that age they watched TV for an hour on weekend mornings them it was off. One parent was up and l would do activities like crafts and dh on his turn might head out after breakfast to a park or woods for a run around.

HeckyPeck · 09/04/2019 16:47

Ye need to take turns to get up with her. One on Sat one on Sunday. She is part of your family now.

Completely disagree.

DSD’s dad only sees her at weekends and holiday. He should want to get up with her both mornings.

stuffedpeppers · 12/04/2019 04:43

Your DP works full time, comes home does the 11-4 shift in the night and you expect him to get up at 0730 and entertain his other daughter.

Sorry the man is knackered and will have had about 2-3 hrs sleep before needing to get up again. you need to swap the shifts.

PoesyCherish · 12/04/2019 13:39

Ye need to take turns to get up with her. One on Sat one on Sunday. She is part of your family now.

I disagree with this too.

DSD 7 wakes up around 6ish and will read in her room for a bit or play with her teddies. We tend to wake up around 9 am and obviously then spend time with her. Sometimes by that point she's made her breakfast, otherwise one of us will make it for her

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