Today, my 13-year-old ambled down the stairs just before noon, while his younger brother remained peacefully asleep. Not too long ago, waking up at 8:00 a.m. was considered a luxury for my teen. Now, I find myself awake for hours before the kids, a stark contrast to those frantic mornings filled with early alarms and sleep deprivation.
It’s becoming more evident each day that my family is morphing into night owls. After the schools closed and we no longer had to rush for carpools and bell schedules, our bedtimes began to drift later and later. Eventually, “bedtime” transformed into a two-hour span that often only began when the clock turned to the early hours of the morning.
As a result of these new sleep patterns, our entire daily routine has flipped. Breakfast is now served around noon, lunch is at 4, and dinner doesn’t happen until 8 or 9. My workday is broken into segments throughout the day, and I often find myself startled to realize it’s already 5 p.m. Where did the day go?! Well, when your day doesn’t start until the afternoon, time on a clock can seem irrelevant.
A few months ago, our nocturnal sleeping habits would have felt impossible, but they seem to be working for us now. My husband, a dedicated night owl himself, is delighted that our kids’ schedules now align more with his. While I tend to be an early riser, I appreciate the quiet hours in the morning that allow me to exercise, catch up on work, or simply enjoy some solitude. Most importantly, this shift is beneficial for my children, who are finally getting the rest they need.
You might think that older kids require less sleep, but that’s not the case during the teenage years. According to Dr. Sarah Johnson, a pediatric specialist, teens actually need around 9 to 9.5 hours of sleep each night—about an hour more than what 10-year-olds require. This extra sleep is essential due to the significant changes happening in their bodies and minds. “Teenagers experience a second developmental stage of cognitive growth,” says Dr. Johnson.
Not only do teens require more sleep, but they also need it at different times. Dr. Lisa Barrett, a sleep specialist, explains that during adolescence, biological sleep patterns shift, making it natural for teens to find it hard to fall asleep before 11:00 p.m. This is why many health experts advocate for later school start times for older students. Dr. Mark Lewis, a sleep researcher, has pointed out that early school start times contribute to “unrecoverable sleep loss,” which can pose health risks. Fortunately, with remote learning, start times are now more flexible, allowing kids to catch up on sleep they previously missed. And us parents can enjoy a little extra shut-eye ourselves—even if it just means waking up at 8 a.m. instead of the usual 5:30 a.m.
While the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic have been significant, this newfound flexibility in our schedules has been a silver lining. Instead of wrestling with my kids to go to bed by 9 or 9:30, they can now sleep when they feel tired and wake up when they feel rested. Without the early morning rush, they wake up at a natural pace, leading to happier moods all around.
Of course, we’ve had to implement a few guidelines to prevent them from staying up all night and being unbearable the next day. Nonetheless, this arrangement is functioning quite well for us. When school resumes, we may have to adjust our schedules again, but for now, we’re embracing our transformation into a family of night owls (minus the bloodsucking, of course). If you’re interested in more about family dynamics and sleep, check out some insights over at one of our other blog posts here. Additionally, for more detailed information on sleep patterns, visit this authority on the topic or explore this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary
The closure of schools has led to a shift in our family’s sleep patterns, turning us into night owls. With the flexibility of remote learning, my kids are getting the sleep they need, allowing us to adopt a more relaxed daily routine. While we may need to adjust again when schools reopen, for now, we are enjoying our unconventional schedule.