Monday, March 9, 2009

Daylight Losing Time

I hate Daylight Savings Time. Frankly, I just don't get it. It doesn't save me anything. Truth be told, it generally loses me one of my favorite things in the whole world. Sleep.

Sophie has been quite the pill lately. I'm not sure if she's teething, having a growth spurt or just being a 17-month-old. Whatever the case, my nerves are a little frayed at the moment. There is lots of crying, screaming and whining. She's a generally good natured kid, which is why this is extra frustrating for me. Until the last couple of weeks, I had never seen a tantrum. No laying on the floor kicking legs. No wriggling, writhing body when I try to pick her up.

Part of me would like to blame it on the example of the other kids at the gym. What better excuse to get me out of the gym than for the health of my daughter? But I suspect it has more to do with her age.

Another part of this phase/stage/age is that she has been getting up at the stroke of 6:08. EVERY DAY. For you morning folks out there, this might be perfect. For me, this is torture. I am the classic night owl. Which is probably why I spent 10 years bartending. I have a tough time falling asleep before midnight. Neil says, "turn the light off and you'll go to sleep." Yeah, it doesn't work that way for me. I'm not a parrot.

Regardless of what time she goes to bed, she gets up at 6:08. To bed at 6:30? Up at 6:08. Down at 9? Up at 6:08. I was hoping that with DST, she would sleep in until 7:08. My body clock would still say it's 6:08, but at least psychologically I would be fooled. I put her to bed at her usual time last night, about 7:30. However, it seems Daylight Savings can't fool my daughter.

She woke up right on time at 6:08. Arrrrgh!

17 comments:

  1. 6:08...
    Wonder if she's tied to the island in any way? I mean, "8" is part of this equation...

    See how I bring it all back to Lost?

    And girl, I'm a night owl, too. Was up 'til 2:30 last night...and awake at 7:15 this morning. Yeah, there will be a SERIOUS nap going on in this house later today. Both me and Caroline. Uh-huh.

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  2. I have one like that. It is SO frustrating! Summer break. Christmas Vactions. Weekends. Designated days that you have to sleep in and everyone know how to do it....but Matthew! Up at 7. Every day. AAGgh! Doesn't matter if we let him stay up til midnight!

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  3. Oh my goodness. That early waking is nerve racking. My son is good to me most days and stays asleep until at least 6:30. Today he is still asleep at 9:30, I suppose that is because of daylight savings and he hasn't been feeling well so I am just letting him sleep until he is ready to wake up. I hope I don't regret this later today.

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  4. Yeah, the whole laying on the floor and kicking and screaming? Welcome to 17-month-oldness. Luckily Xander only does this occasionally, and I can't help it, I laugh at him. It seems to change the mood pretty quickly and he usually ends up laughing with me. Usually.

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  5. I know that pain of early rising kids. Mine do the same thing. Will she 'play' in her bed until 7am? That is what we do with the babies.

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  6. Yes, my dear, I feel your pain. I literally have to tiptoe around to keep my youngest asleep. Lightest sleeper ev.er.

    Sleep is such a precious commodity in this house. I take some every chance I get.....I'm not a morning person, but I have to be. I don't, however have to like it.

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  7. I hear you. So not fun.
    We experienced the same thing yesterday. We were completely thrown by the time change... didn't phase the boys in the least!

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  8. I hate DST too. It doesn't make any sense to me.

    My kid is still on the old time. Now he's falling asleep even later, which means I go to bed later!

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  9. I remember the first few nights my son slept through the entire night and when I opened my eyes for the first time since 10 or 11 the previous night and looked at the clock and it was 6 am, I was THRILLED (and had to get up even though he wasn't even awake yet--to check on him to be sure he was okay). Six am seemed like sleeping in those days. It's all the perspective! LOL!

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  10. I hate it too and always have! I would love nothing more than if it could just be eliminated!!

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  11. Like you, I had hoped that Little Bit would wake up at 6:30 instead of 5:30 today, now that we had sprung forward. No. such. luck.

    I manage okay in the morning, but I miss the days when I could stay up late and get stuff done.

    Don't stop going to the gym!

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  12. Oh man, I could have written this post!

    Even though I go to bed and wake up at different times everyday I hate the time change. It throws my whole mo-jo off. I too am a night person.

    It took me almost a year to 'train' Little J to sleep until 8am. He used to be a 6amer too and it would bring me to tears, especially when he gave up his naps!

    Have you tried 'ignoring' her in her crib when she wakes up? That sometimes worked for us. I'd yell
    "10 more mins!" and Little J would go back to sleep for another 30mins LOL

    The tantrums are so normal! Wait until shes 5 and throwing herself on the floor kicking and screaming.
    People are not quite as sympathetic.

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  13. Okay, Lula's comment above? OMG how funny!

    About the whole attitude change...my girls went through that around the same age. It's completely normal, they are 16 and 18yrs now. When they are done with the stage, I'll let you know. :)

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  14. Yuck...though I personally love DST. I would prefer us to have it year-round though.

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  15. DST! DST! DST! The suns ashinin and I can finally stay up till 10pm.

    Oh, don't worry - I ain't a morning person either - I just like to sleep for 12-14 hours.

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  16. I fucking hate Daylight Savings TIme. "Scuse me for saying "Daylight Savings Time."

    My kids don't understand it, I don't understand it. Can we just let nature decide the rising and setting of the sun? That's kinda what nature's good at.

    Criminy!

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  17. CRW has been a pickle too! I heard that "terrible twos" actually peaks at 18 months. Hope things get better soon.

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Give me some sugar, baby!