Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The experiment

Ok. I've been thinking I would do this for the last three weeks and I haven't been able to make myself do this yet. But today I did. My challenge (ok, there are about 90% of you that do this anyway, so don't laugh), is that I am going to get up at the same time as Ryan for a whole week. But for those of you who understand (or share, Sarah) my love of sleep, you'll feel my pain. He gets up at 6 or 6:30am - and let me tell you - I can't even remember the last time I voluntarily got up that early. Probably the mission. I HATE mornings. I LOVE sleep. But, I've been thinking for a while I should try it. In the past Ryan has mentioned how he would like it if I got up with him, or asked why don't I get up when he does. Well, because - why on earth would I voluntarily get up before my children?!? Are you nuts?!?

So I'm going to bite the bullet - but that is why I'm only committing for one week. I make no guarantees beyond that. I was actually going to start on Monday. And the two Mondays before that. :) But come Sunday night, I just couldn't face the idea. It seemed absurd. But this morning the kids got up at 6:15 (for a bottle and then went back to bed). And I stayed up. Ok, ok. I got back in bed and tried to make the idea go away. But then I finally got up. I'd actually had a good night's sleep, and that's kind of rare (and the major reason I hate getting up in the morning - it usually takes me hours to fall asleep at night, so wish me luck). And Ryan didn't have a good night's sleep last night (I know because at 3am he was up with Ashton, then when he came back to bed he tried to hug me and got swiftly rejected), so that means at least tonight I know we'll be going to bed early.

So this morning I exercised. I'm not sure that's my calling in life, to be a morning exerciser. I'm just too lethargic in the morning and feel like I could accomplish what I accomplished at night in much less time. So we'll see. Maybe I'll try to work on all the scrapbooks that are piling up. Maybe I'll try to start organizing all the movies we've taken and never strung together or done anything with. Maybe I'll read the scriptures in the morning. Who knows, the possibilities are endless. Although I have to keep myself in check realizing that it's not that much more time in the day so I can't expect miracles, and often someone is up by 7:30 for the day anyway.

I'm not really sure why Ryan likes the idea. Today he said it was nice having someone else up, that it wasn't so lonely. I don't know what the big deal is - I'm up late by myself every night and I don't seem to mind. I mean, really, it's not like I'm going to be standing outside the shower waiting to hand him a towel or walking around the house tidying up after him. But for some reason Ryan has even said it would be romantic. And since I frankly never put the words "romantic" and "Ryan" in the same sentence, this is something I've just got to see.

14 comments:

Jenilee said...

Good luck Jen. I have thought of that idea as well, but Seth wakes up around 4:30 or 5:00 to study and my girls wake-up around 6:30 every morning. I am just not dedication enough to wake up at 5:00 am.

Anonymous said...

Wow, in this aspect James and I are exactly like Ryan and you, respectively (me being the sleep lover, James the early riser). There is always an excuse when you are getting up in the night with babies (as I still am), but I always try to come up with other excuses once the babies are sleeping through the night. "Ohhhh, I can't get up early this morning. I didn't fall asleep until 11:30 last night..." I feel like I need AT LEAST 8 hours to feel rested during this stage of life. Still, that hasn't happened in a while.

But it is exactly the same here. James up at 6-6:30, me up at 7:30. I tried going to a spin class Monday at 7, which both felt really good and made me want to cry. Morning exercise... I hear you loud and clear on that one, sister.

Megan said...

I would much rather go to bed early and get up early. I feel like my days are more productive that way. Although Donny likes to stay up late and then he has to get up early to go to work, and he wants me to be on the same schedule. It is not so easy for me. I need at least 8 hours, if not 10 hours of sleep. I find myself wasting my days on afternoon naps to often.
Let me know how this romance thing works out. Donny and romance also don't fit in the same sentence. So if waking up early helps, maybe i can adjust my schedule.
P.S. the space shuttle launch was at midnight, we didn't get home until 5am. Speaking of sleep, that is what my entire Saturday consisted of.

Unknown said...

I COMPLETELY share your attitude in this matter! Brandon says the same thing to me-"why don't you get up in the mornings with me?", and my usual response-"the same reason you don't get up with me 3 or 4 times during the night". Then our conversation usually ends there.

But, I too have recently committed to being up at 6:45 or 7:00 with Brandon. It's not a big difference from my 7:30 wake up time in the summer, but still a sacrifice, ha! I have been thinking that we need to be more consistent on reading scriptures as a family in the mornings and that was the reason for dragging myself out of bed last week.

I think most moms really just enjoy quiet time at night (I know I do). I think this is really where the problem lies for me. Right now I am just not willing to give that up-it keeps me sane! I have felt okay about losing 45 minutes every morning so far. Hopefully it all works out for you. Oh, the sacrifices we make for our husbands!

AnnaMarie said...

I love that Ryan loves the idea so much. How funny. And good for you. I dread the day when I have to get up before Katie does. I think the main problem I have with it is that I do "only" have an hour or so before Katie's up. But maybe you'll inspire me. :)

Melanie said...

I applaud your efforts! It is sooo hard getting out of bed in the morning but somehow Jed and Ryan do it everyday so that inspires me a little. One thing that helps me is I love my morning cup of tea. I crave it so If I get up and get that going I feel better about being up. I'll be cheering for you!

Tanya said...

I share your love of sleep and dislike (putting it lightly) for early mornings. Why start my day any earlier than it has to HOWEVER Taylor started school a couple weeks ago and the first day Igot up at 7 which is an hour before I have to wake her and the other kids. I couldn't believe how nice it was. I love it now. Its quiet and I can get stuff done. I can get ready for the day without interruptions. I definitly have become a fan. Now if I had to get up at 6:30 that would be another story. =) Before 7 is just not okay with me. So good luck with that =). But seriously, I have become a firm believer in getting up before the kids do. Keep us up to date.

Anonymous said...

Good idea! I will be anxious to hear how it goes. Sounds like a worthy goal.

xoxocyhunsaker

SuburbiaMom said...

We're the reverse. I would love for my husband to get up when I get up!! Oh well. Good luck--it'll probably just make you and your husband closer--and that's a very good thing!!!

Angie said...

Funny that Ryan wants company in the morning. One of the reasons I enjoy being up early when I am (constant battle. I'm glad once I'm up, but the power of the bed is so strong . . .) is that I can be alone. Really the peace and quiet of a house that is never peaceful or quiet is a beautiful thing. I'm trying to convince myself that those prophets are onto something with their "retire early, rise early" stuff. The battle is with the late to bed husband, the popping up children and the middle of the night sick people--these things combine to make the early rising oh so much more difficult than it would otherwise be. good luck! It's a worthy experiment.

Gavin and Shawna said...

I don't like mornings and I loathe early mornings. Gavin knows its a necessary evil for him, so he tolerates them and doesn't make it much into the night to hang out. I literally could stay up until 2 am because I love the quiet and calm ability to sit and do whatever I want.
And I don't think Gav really wants me up when he is...because I am not perky and he would just want to chat,which he knows is a no-no in the mornings.
Thank goodness Christian's school starts at 9AM...I love being able to take our time and wake up when the sun is actually out.
Someday when our hubbies can actually choose their working hours...I KNOW mine won't be too early...but for now, that's cute that Ryan wants your morning company (or does he just want a breakfast??)=))

Hunnygrams said...

I lucked out. Having spent his early life on the farm, Kirk worked for 2 or 3 hours before coming in for breakfast, so he never was much for eating first thing in the morning -- which gave me the perfect out. It is kind of nice to have a bit of morning to yourself, though, if you can fight off the sleep monster. An old proverb says, "An ounce of morning is worth a pound of afternoon". I used to be a night owl, lots of projects done into the wee hours of the morning, but now am happy to rest my aching bones by 10:30! Good luck!

Sarah said...

oh dear jen, if you can keep up with this than you are a better woman than i. it's a goal I've made probably 768 times for myself. and haven't quite been able to keep it yet. I wish you the best of luck in your early rising endevers. but never forget who is always here to support you in any kind of napping goals!

Anonymous said...

This is too funny because just this morning I said to Cory how I hate mornings. He was impressed I was up before him. It was only 7:30. So it's not even that early. Anyway, I hope this doesn't sound terrible or morbid or anything but I seriously just said this morning, "I hope I die in my sleep and one morning just never wake up." Because doesn't that sound like a dream to just stay in bed forever!!!! I know that's so bad. Especially since I was the sister that always played dead to freak you out!!!!

But there is just something so beautiful and comfy about a bed! AHHH!!!!

I want to go there now but I have told myself I must stay up and do a few things tonight. I even let my children stay up late tonight to clean. Isn't that horrible. But that's how bad my house is right now and I can't get on top of it and Cory will be back tomorrow. When children start school it's a huge schedule adjustment. So just think in 3 to 4 years you'll be able to blog all about that! I'm sure we'll all still be around and we enjoy your blogs!

Julie