Today, my 13-year-old son finally made his way down the stairs just before lunchtime. His younger brother was still snoozing away. Not long ago, 8:00 a.m. was considered a luxury sleep-in for my teen, but now I often find myself awake for hours before they rise—a stark contrast to the chaos of early mornings we used to endure.
It’s becoming increasingly apparent that our household is morphing into a family of nocturnal beings. Once schools shut down and morning routines vanished, bedtime gradually shifted to later hours. Now, what used to be a bedtime routine has turned into a flexible two-hour window that only begins after midnight.
As a result, our daily schedule has been completely upended. Breakfast has shifted to noon, lunch is around 4:00 p.m., and dinner doesn’t start until 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. My work is now broken up throughout the day, and I often find myself surprised to see that it’s already 5:00 p.m. Where did the time go? Without an early start, time feels like it’s slipping away.
A few months ago, such a vampire-like existence would have seemed unimaginable, but surprisingly, we are all adapting well to this new routine. My husband, a dedicated night owl, is thrilled that our kids’ schedules align with his. As a morning person, I appreciate the quiet hours to myself before the household awakens—allowing me to exercise, work, or just collect my thoughts. Most importantly, our kids are finally getting the sleep they need.
Many might assume that older children require less sleep, but this is not the case during the teenage years. According to Dr. Michael Crocetti, a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins, teenagers typically need 9 to 9.5 hours of sleep each night, which is about an hour more than what a 10-year-old requires. This need for extra rest is crucial as they navigate significant developmental changes.
Teens also experience a natural shift in their sleep patterns. Dr. Laura Sterni, the Director of the Pediatric Sleep Center at Johns Hopkins, notes that adolescents tend to fall asleep and wake up later. The National Sleep Foundation confirms this, stating that biological rhythms shift during these years, making it normal for teens to struggle to sleep before 11:00 p.m.
This is why many experts advocate for later school start times for middle and high school students. Dr. Steven Lockley from Harvard Medical School highlights that early school hours can lead to “unrecoverable sleep loss,” posing health risks for teenagers. With the shift to remote learning, the timing of sleep now hinges on individual preferences, allowing kids to reclaim the sleep they previously lacked—much to the benefit of parents, who can also enjoy a bit more rest (even if “sleeping in” now means waking at 8:00 a.m. instead of 5:30 a.m.).
While the ongoing pandemic has been challenging and traumatic, there are silver linings to be found. Instead of battling my children to sleep by 9:00 or 9:30 p.m., they can now go to bed when they feel tired and wake when they are ready. This freedom has resulted in a more harmonious household.
Of course, we’ve established some guidelines to prevent their nocturnal habits from spiraling out of control, but for the most part, this new schedule works for us. We’ll eventually need to readjust once schools resume—whenever that may be. Until then, we’ll embrace our life as a family of night owls (minus the bloodsucking, of course).
For further insights on balancing sleep and health, you might find this post about the importance of sleep interesting. If you’re interested in the science of fertility, Make a Mom offers valuable resources for couples. Additionally, the CDC provides an excellent overview of pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, our family has adapted to a new routine that prioritizes sleep and well-being, transforming our household into a more relaxed environment. While we may need to adjust our schedules in the future, for now, we are embracing this temporary vampire lifestyle.
Leave a Reply