Bedtime routines are always a controversial topic, but one mother’s strong rules for her teens are causing alarm among other parents.She says it has worked for her family.
A mum’s bedtime routine has sparked a heated debate – but she vows to stick to it.
For many parents, knowing how to arrange school vacation schedules can be difficult. Everyone’s parenting style is different, whether it’s making sure your kids’ days are jam-packed with activities or letting go of any sense of timetable and simply letting them relax.
One mother had a very unique approach to summer vacation. And sharing the strict rules she imposes on her three teenage children during her long vacation has divided opinion among other parents. She explained that as soon as each of her children turned 13, she stopped giving them bedtimes and allowed them to choose when they went to bed.
The mother explained in 2020 that she did not monitor when her children went to bed during the school day, as long as they woke up on time for school and their grades were within acceptable limits. However, on days when there is no school, I have a rule that I have to wake up and get out of bed by 8am.
“My reason for having a wake time instead of a bedtime is because as adults, no one tells you when to go to bed, but you have to wake up for work, school, family, etc.,” she wrote. .
“It’s to get them used to regulating their own sleep schedules early on, before they go to college.” At a recent family gathering, when the topic of bedtimes came up, she said, “I feel sorry for them.” Relatives have approached me about how unfair it is to make young children wake up in the morning.”
“I was accused of being controlling and domineering,” she continued. “It was getting a little heated, so I went ahead and went home. I should point out, when the kids turned 13, they were all excited because, ‘Go to bed.’ And our youngest teenager is 13.” I’ve been doing this for years and the kids haven’t really complained. ”
When she asked for other opinions on her parenting choices on Reddit, some said that enforcing this rule could actually be unhealthy for her three children. Research claims that teens need more sleep and often have different sleep patterns than adults.
One person said, “Research shows that teenage brains are still developing and actually need more sleep than adults.”
A second person said: “I don’t follow your logic. As an adult, I sleep as late as I want on days when I don’t have work, school, or other obligations.” If you want it to happen, why would you do it?” Why not allow the same? ”
However, one person objected: “This idea is actually smart. In the adult world, no one cares what time they go to bed, but in order to work they have to wake up at a certain time in the morning. By starting discipline now, they can will grow to wake up on time.”
Another added: “Other people’s opinions don’t really matter as long as the kids are healthy and happy.”
After reading the feedback, mothers told their children about the research and concerns they had read, and said they were all initially adamant about sticking to the 8 a.m. wake-up time.
When she explains the logic behind it and the importance of getting enough sleep, she says that while they can push the time back to 9 a.m. and still wake up early if they want to maintain a routine, “the pressure to do so is… Not at all,” he added.
Have a story to tell? Email: [email protected]