I’m not a morning person. I like sleep. I’ve always been one to stay up all night reading. For as long as I could remember, waking up for school wasn’t just painful because I was a teenager, but my *best sleep* always seems to happen between 4:30am and 6:30am, which is VERY unhelpful when you have to wake up around 6 to catch the bus. And one of the MANY reasons why I’ve always struggled to be one of those moms that wakes up early, before the kids, to have, “mommy time.”
For a long time I felt guilty and like a real failure because waking up is just HARD for me. For a good chunk of time, I’d end my day with my Bible reading and devotions. It’s easier for me to stay awake than to wake up earlier. At some point I came across a meme or reel that said something to the affect of, “it’s ok if you aren’t one of those moms that wakes up 2 hours before your kids to do things.” In a weird way, it’s like it gave me permission and I lost a lot of that guilt.
I had wrapped up reading (listening) to Modern Miss Mason, and had been wrapping up “Habits of the Household.” Of course, always listening to Tea Time With Sally too. The meshing of these influences paired with the arranging in my room, gave me the motivation to try waking up at 6am instead of my usual 7am.
The joke was on me from the day I started. Because BOTH of my children ended up awake at 6am that day. Eleanor likes to sleep on our bedroom floor. We can’t figure it out. She sneaks in sometime between 12-6am. I had started doing morning time in the rocker in our bedroom, but had to move it out to the living room as to not disturb her. Our sectional has a great chaise that is “mom’s corner.” I quickly realized that this whole “an hour for mommy before the kids wake up” thing was not actually going to happen. So I started prepping my coffee the night before for 4:25am, and trying to be out of bed by 5am instead of 6am to TRY and beat these early birds.
At the additional inspiration and influence of Sally (the actual GOAT), I welcome the girls in to my time, if they get up early. No, I will not make breakfast any earlier for them. Yes, I will get them a drink when I go out to the kitchen to get my own coffee. No, they may not sit in my bed and watch TV. No, they may not sit and bicker while I’m trying to read my Bible. What they can do is snuggle in my bed, or with me on the chair. What they can do is ask me to read what I’m reading out loud. They can be in the room with me. I WANT my children to see the habits. I want them to SEE mom in the word starting her day. I want them to watch as I jot down notes in different colored pens, and turn on instrumental hymns as I prayer journal.
I’ve been trucking through the Old Testament, trickling through Ezra currently. My friend Anne hooked me up with a Peloton trial in February, and after sticking with it consistently, I decided to keep it going. I try and get at least 3 mornings a week in of something. I’ve been a pretty consistent Pilates participant, but I’ve also really enjoyed some of the shorter strength work outs. As a family, we LOVE some of the evening stretches. Somehow, I’ve managed to typically get my reading and workout done before tiny humans infiltrate.
Honestly, it’s quite annoying how much more productive I’ve been waking up before the sun most mornings. I’ve also found that my body actually feels better too. I seem to hit another deep sleep/REM cycle if I stay asleep past 5am, which makes waking up even at 6, much more difficult. A few weeks ago I let myself sleep in until more like 8/8:30 and I woke up feeling like I’d been run over by a train. I actually said, “Oh gosh, I feel awful. I have to wake up early again tomorrow.” There have been some days I’ve given myself grace and slept in a bit, but so far, this has been a really positive life change!
I had been talking to a friend a few months ago with 3 littles, including a baby at the time, as she said, “I wish I could do this.” I could not have emphasized more that this is a NEW habit for me. When I had babies, when I was breastfeeding, when I had a 3 year old and a 1 year old, I was not doing this. That season, this habit wasn’t a possibility for ME. It was hard because I did want to be that person too. But I can see the grace in that season, and appreciate being able to do it now that much more. So if you’re not there yet, even if your kids are older, THAT’S OK! I spent a lot of years doing mommy time at bedtime, or nap time, or standing at my now famous, kitchen sink.
The Nurtured Bee 