Lately the Bug has been having trouble getting up in the morning for school. More or less, he forgets to set the alarm clock. I like my sleep so I am trying to teach him to get up on his own. He’s in Middle School now and I think he is able to handle getting himself up and getting out the door.
Time is crucial to this boy, he likes his sleep too and wants to sleep in as long as possible, but he just can’t because we never know when the bus is showing up. The grading period is almost over and she still shows up with a 10 minute window of when to expect the bus.
Bug thought of a solution to his problem and posed it to me the other night. The following is our conversation, more or less.
Bug: Mom, would it be ok if I took my shower at night, and then instead of putting on PJ’s, I put on what I want to wear to school in the morning and go to bed that way?
Me: Seriously? (Can you see the look on my face?)
Bug: Yes mom. Seriously. This way I don’t risk being late for the bus anymore.
Me: {{sigh}} Do you like the crumpled look? Do you have any idea how your clothes are going to look in the morning?
Bug: It will be fine mom. I am the first one on the bus in the morning so I have plenty of time to straighten out. So… what do you say? Can I do it?
The thing with this conversation is that he was serious. Not kidding and not trying to be his usual funny self. I can’t decide if I should be stunned that he came up with this on his own OR that he thinks it’s a good idea.
Part of me wants to choke his father for having such strong genes that Bug would already think like a man, the other part… well I considered it. For about 5 minutes.
While I am proud that he comes up with this on his own, I am also concerned that this is a trend in thinking that could cause me some headaches.
So what would you have done? Are you all for the crumpled look?
This is too cute…I can see him asking you this. As your mom…can I offer a suggestion? Yes I read your sites just a little behind lately. Anyway…compromise is the answer. Shower the night before good idea..crumpled look not so cool with the new girls in middle school. Also may be the time for that little talk about hygiene again..such as deoderant before leaving for school after brushing the teeth before you leave. He is getting to that age now. Maybe putting the clothes next to his bed the night before too, books by the door all packed & ready to go by the coats & shoes. Let me know how this works. Remember I had a few of my own. Justin was in high school & I was still getting up in the morning – now I can’t sleep past 8. ugh
I can TOTALLY see my son & I having this conversation! I think it’s just a “boy” thing, I mean ~ not minding the wrinkled look!!!
My son was in fourth grade when I noticed that his clothes looked awfully wrinkled. I jokingly asked him what did you do sleep in your clothes to which he answered Yeah mom!! He thought that if he set his alarm for 3am and got up and got dressed then that would give him more time to sleep. I had to explain to him that he still has to get up at the same time. (I wake all of the kids up at 430 so that I can get them ready and to the sitter and be at work by 6am) that this actually allowed him less sleep. Just be glad that your son asked you before implementing this plan.