Early to bed and early to rise, is the way to be healthy, wealthy and wise. -English Proverb
I sometimes feel that the best possible time to clean my house is late at night. The girls are safely tucked in bed. Greg is busy. I have the time to do it and do it well.
But I never do.
Because that is when I check email or facebook and maybe stay up for Craig Ferguson (whom I adore). I often read a book into the wee hours.
But I have decided that I simply cannot persist in staying up so late. I fear it is detrimental to our entire household, as groggy, cranky mommies are generally useless and unproductive. I am therefore resolving to go to bed earlier each night in order to rise earlier each lovely morn.
I will become an efficient and cheerful housekeeping queen.
Yes. Right.
Starting tomorrow.
Strange things have been happening around here. Like the fact that my "up with sunshine" firstborn has been sleeping in to a staggering 10:30 am.
Shocking!
(Incidentally, I do not recommend painting an eastern facing nursery a spring green, as the vivid rising sun will literally cause the room to glow with supernatural fervor, rendering it impossible to lull a toddler back to sleep).
Until the last month or so, I have been accustomed to hauling my sluggish self out of bed no later than 7:30, when I can no longer ignore a plastic sippy cups repeated blows to my noggin.
But now BOTH girls are sleeping late. And I am afraid I have allowed myself the luxury of joining them.
Yes, even as dishes sit unwashed in the sink or laundry unfolded in the basket, I slumber.
I always imagined that if someday I was blessed with two late risers, I would be up enjoying the peace and quiet of the morning with my coffee and my laptop, maybe watch the news. I thought I might fit in a Bible study or devotional. I would sit in a rocking chair. I would cuddle up in a fluffy robe. I would have a cat purring in my lap.
But we don't have a cat and I don't own a bathrobe. What I do have is a very dysfunctional relationship with my alarm clock. Each morning I beat it into silence and continue to sleep until Sophie's high pitched gibberish is broadcast over the monitor.
I always request that Greg make sure I am up before he leaves for work. His reply is always the same.
"No."
He says he would prefer that his wife not yell at him each morning before he goes to work. Apparently, I am a bit difficult to rouse from sleep.
And also irritable. Very irritable.
This is something I must work on.
And so my questions to the busy stay home mamas are as follows: Are you an early riser or a night owl? How do you manage to get yourself up when you don't technically have to be anywhere specific? When do you fit in your "me" time? Please share! I love a discussion.
