Today I had a babysitting job at 8:30 in the morning, so I knew I had to go to sleep early the night before to wake up on time. I had been used to getting up at 10:00 since my college classes don’t start till later. So I went to sleep at 10:00 PM, and woke up at 5:00 AM. I miss the days of going to sleep early and waking up early. I realized how good it feels to wake up early and then by the time it’s 8:00 AM it feels like most of the day passed already. So you don’t leave your house wishing you were still sleeping, instead you feel refreshed and awake. It was nice to walk outside and actually see people outside. Mothers bringing their kids to bus stops. Saying Good Morning to everyone. It feels so good to wake up early and leave the house early.
Now Why do kids never want to go to sleep by bedtime? Why do they always stall going to bed? One answer is because kids only see the present, they only see the here and now, they can’t think into the future. So for them going to bed is like committing suicide. They don’t know that there will be a fun filled day tomorrow. All they see is that they are putting an end to the fun they are having right now. So a way to get kids to go to sleep on time, is to tell them what is to come. Start talking to them about the day tomorrow. They will get excited about what is to come, and they will start to dream about it and fall asleep.
Now Adults have the opposite problem. Adults are to busy worrying about the future, all the problems they have, that they can’t focus on enjoying the present. Therefore adults like sleeping. They want to sleep their day away to sleep away their problems. To not have to think about the troubles that are to come. For the adults, you just have to stop worrying about what is to come. Relax and enjoy the morning and day hours, and do something constructive.
There are some adults though that are a perfect balance, they can go to sleep on time and wake up in the morning at the right time. They are usually the most healthy and happy people. A 9 to 5 job usually causes such a routine. Staying up at night should be for a special occasion, a wedding, a night out, not a regular routine. Some houses have a rule that at 10:00 PM lights are out and no one is allowed to call the house phone line. That might be too strict for some, but if the parents are sleeping, and the lights are out then it will be easier for the kids to fall asleep. While in other houses where everyone is up at 2 in the morning, lights are on, music blasting, then it will be hard for the kids to go to sleep.
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I didn't want to go to bed when I was a kid because I was convinced I was going to miss something important.
ReplyDelete"One answer is because kids only see the present . . ."
ReplyDeletevery interesting.
"Some houses have a rule that at 10:00 PM lights are out and no one is allowed to call the house phone line."
i think it's just common courtesy not call someone at home after 10. i would never do so unless i know specifically that the person is waiting for my call
"used to getting up at 10:00"
ah, the enviable life of a college student
"job"
i hope that in this case you mean a job that pays. especially if you have to get up early
Jessica: Yea, that's another thing, good point. kids are afraid that they will miss out on things. That also happens with online stuff, I used to not want to go to sleep early cause all the online activity happens at night, and I would miss it all.
ReplyDeleteLion Of Zion: That's true it probably is common courtesy.
Yea, don't worry it is a paying job. Although I didn't up my price yet. Actually I am still by this babysitting job now. The baby is sleeping, I put him in at 9:30 and he should sleep a bit longer...It's good I get to catch up with blogging. I don't have a good connection at home, so now I get to comment on everyone's blogs. So its like their paying me to use their services, lol. But it is an issue of time, which is what I mentioned in my Getting Paid Post.
enviable life of a college student:
ReplyDeletei definitely can't complain. i start my classes after one. so i spend all morning studying eyeballs and tongues.
fun.
FrumCollegeGirl: Yea I do spend most of my mornings studying too. Another thing I forgot to mention is that by me mornings are great for studying and school work. I get so much more accomplished then. So a lot of times I go to sleep knowing I haven't studied for a test or done HW, but not worrying, because I would get to it in the morning.
ReplyDeleteWhat's with your connection at home?
ReplyDeleteI go to sleep at 1~2AM and my kid wakes me up at 7AM. He goes to sleep 8~9PM. If anyone calls on home phone after, they getting a nice beating and I don't care who it is. I had a couple times charities call and I'm like "You know what time it is?! You got watch by you?! Why don't you look at it and tell what it is!"
Moshe: I use wireless with my laptop, and all the unsecured networks aren't showing up, so I'm stuck using dialup till one of them show up. and it's so slow...
ReplyDeleteYea, so we would think its common courtesy not to call people's homes past a certain time. Whenever I babysit and someone calls at like 10 or 11, or when the kids are sleeping I always try to pick it up as soon as possible so that the ring doesn't wake them up. Some are smart and turn off the ringers upstairs and only keep the downstairs on.
Yes calling after 10:30 is my rule unless you are texting my cellphone. And I am usaully going to bed at 1-2 am. theres so much with to do, so little time.
ReplyDeleteGet an external adapter, linksys or dlink. And/or get aircrack. It makes short work of WEP and even WPA will fall with enough time.
ReplyDeleteMikeInMidwood: I have my cell on vibrate all the time, so to me it doesn't make a difference if someone calls or texts, its the same vibrate. Although text is usually better so you know what they wanted. Which is why I like when people leave messages, so I know what to get back to them on. If they call and don't leave a message I figure its not important. Especially with people who call to ask me to babysit, makes it easier when they leave a message so I know the details and I have time to decide or make up an excuse, before getting back to them.
ReplyDeleteMoshe: Interesting you mention those 2, because those are 2 wireless networks that used to be available. Where would I get the adapter from? would circut city have it? What's aircrack? links? Never heard of WPA or WEP
I think that another reason why kids dislike going to sleep is that sleep is not enjoyable to them. Whereas for adults, it is often seen as a chance to unwind from the stresses of the day, snuggle down into the covers, maybe read a little...
ReplyDeleteKids just see excitement, and sleep doesn't offer much excitement for them.
Margo: right, that's true. Children do have more energy, while adults are just always tired.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add a quote about sleep that I made up, that's applicable to this topic.
ReplyDelete"In 10 years from now sleep may be expensive"
I don't know about getting to sleep--- but the best way to get a kid OUT of bed is if they have something fun to do that day.
ReplyDeleteWell ah say, da best way to get a kid outa his bed is one of dem cattle prod doohickeys. You gotsa to see the speed they be making after you jab them with one of dem cattle prods.
ReplyDeleteRicki's Mom: right, that's true too.
ReplyDeleteMoshe: Pirate day is over ;-)
umm...that wasn't a pirate...that was a redneck...
ReplyDeleteMoshe: oops, now that I take a closer look, your right.
ReplyDeleteIt's not my right or my left :-P
ReplyDeleteMoshe: lol, I meant You're right!
ReplyDeleteThat I am.
ReplyDeleteI definitely enjoying every little bit of it. It is a great website and nice share. I want to thank you. Good job! You guys do a great blog, and have some great contents. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeletehow to fall asleep for kids