How to get used to 4:30 am swim … for parents

[Anonymous]

Hi all. Looking for advice from seasoned parents. My kid just started swimming mornings. We carpool with a fellow parent. That being said, I work full time and have a younger child.

Do you eventually get used to the routine? We as a family are all going to bed early (with some push back from the younger kid), so we got that down. I am also eating much much better and hydrating. Also sleeping in on weekends. My husband cannot help as he has a chronic medical condition.

What are your suggestions?

[Anonymous]

I would never be able to adjust to that. It's not just a question of shifting sleep times, some people's bodies just don't do well with such an early wake-up. My natural wake-up time is 7-8am. I can't wake up early one day and late the next day.

Rather you than me, OP.

[Anonymous]

you never will. it sucks worse than anything else.

hopefully your kid is motivated to set alarm and get up, but be warned it gets hard in the cold winter months to go and leave in the dark.

Your whole family has to be quiet after 8 pm.

You won't be able to go to bed at 8pm, so you will be chronically sleep deprived.

Your child will have to stay up late occasionally or will want to, then they will be sleep deprived

[Anonymous]

also, why will your younger kid have to suffer this schedule? unfair especially since it will never end for YEARS

[Anonymous]

Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never be able to adjust to that. It's not just a question of shifting sleep times, some people's bodies just don't do well with such an early wake-up. My natural wake-up time is 7-8am. I can't wake up early one day and late the next day.

Rather you than me, OP.

Me again. If your family can do that, more power to you, of course! But my son was diagnosed with sleep apnea at 15, I don't sleep well (never been diagnosed, but I suspect I have some episodes)... I am truly convinced I'd shorten some of our lives if I did that. I would never pick an activity that interfered with my family's sleep schedules. Life is hard enough already.

[Anonymous]

OP here. So is 14 and extremely motivated. Younger kid actually benefits from going to bed at 8, so don’t judge families you don’t know.

I think we will try to find a third family carpool with.

I never thought I would have this issue, but DS gets straight As and is great at his sport. Who are we to stop him?

… let me go take a nap now 😂

[Anonymous]

I think if you aren’t naturally a morning person, you will never adjust. I tried it every morning for 6 weeks during summer swim and worked out while they swam (took a long power walk). It never got better.
It will be short lived if they start driving when able.

[Anonymous]

You get used to it. Ours started at 5 am so Id get up at 4:15, and check on ds ( he started about age 12 with that time). He had alarm but I’d check with him at 4:30 and we would be in the car at 4:45. Swim bag packed at night by door.

He was highly motivated and swam club and summer through HS. My rule was that he had 2 skips a month with no questions asked - just tell me the night before. He did not take that many over the years.

He also could skip if sick, or if a big test he was anxious about. With all of this, it put in place the overarching rule of …..I did not want to wake up at 4:15 every day and have a problem getting him up.

I have to say in the almost 6 years there may have been 3 x when I went in and he could not get up.

We also got in a car pool after two years, and then they became old enough to drive. ( that is a hard one in knowing when to let a sleepy, young driver drive when dark, cold, wet, etc.)

So many people do it. I’ve always been a morning runner and would get up at 5 to go out at 5:30. It did not affect our older child.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. I am a morning person. This will help me get back to my marathon running shape.

[Anonymous]

How many days a week?

[Anonymous]

OP here. So is 14 and extremely motivated. Younger kid actually benefits from going to bed at 8, so don’t judge families you don’t know.

I am assuming there is no public transportation option. When my sister was that age, she got up and took the bus to a 5am practice, but we were in Manhattan.

[Anonymous]

The carpool could actually be making it harder. If you were up early every day you will adjust better than if you only have to get up early a few times a week

[Anonymous]

We as a family are all going to bed early (with some push back from the younger kid), so we got that down.

I am confused as to why this is affecting your younger child. I understand that your husband has a health condition, but isn't he in the house asleep? What time does your younger child's school start that you couldn't circle back to get them up and drop them off? The earliest school starts where we are is 8.

[Anonymous]

I exercise at 530 every day so often get up at 430. I suggest exercising then and of course going to bed early. Also avoid alcohol and caffeine if you can.

Personally I love getting up early and staring the day with exercise and not feeling overly hurried. But I also don’t mind going to bed early.