Who Needs an Alarm Clock When There's a Bird Sanctuary Less Than a Mile Away?

I wake up at 5:00 every morning. I take my temperature for reasons I won't go into, though many of you already know, or can guess, why I do it. Somehow one or other of my children manage to wake up soon thereafter. Three weeks ago it wasn't nearly this bad. Three weeks ago, if I remember correctly both children slept in until 6:30 or even 7:00. Then things changed and not for the better. This doesn't drive me crazy like it once might have. Mostly now it only makes me sad because I know that I need that time for quiet in the mornings, and I know that I'm not going to get it. The only way I can get it is to turn the boys over to Michael and then go outside to sit in the sun, which in fact does make me happy. Unfortunately I don't do this very often because I don't see why he should have to get up at 5:00 or 5:30 in the morning merely because I choose to.

I didn't realize I was being prophetic many months ago when I said that I could not get up before my children.

I get up early in the morning because sleeping in tends to ruin my day. I do it because, as an introvert, and as a thinker/studier (and I promise you I really and truly can't help it) I require lots of time to myself. I also do it because I'm tired of not being able to sleep at night.

We've tried several tactics to help the children sleep longer. I've put blankets over their windows and taped them to the wall with masking tape so that the morning sun won't invade their room so early. I've used chip clips to secure one of them to the curtain rod, which makes me laugh. I'll get blackout shades for their room once I've finally made up my mind to spend the money. The shades will work a lot better I suspect than a blanket drawn back with a third (and slightly broken) chip clip.

We started putting the children to bed a little early. We did this because Parker was developing dark circles under his eyes and because Isaac was beginning to skip his afternoon nap as often as not. It seems to have helped with nap time (at least I think it has) but mornings haven't gotten any better. I'll continue the experiment at least a few more days to see if that result changes.

Two nights ago we put a fan in their room, a fan that will blow all night, and in the morning mask the sound of the birds, who begin their song around 5:00 as I am getting up. So far Parker has slept a little later, but not Isaac. This morning I was able to persuade them to at least stay in their room until a more reasonable hour, but there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth--on their part mostly, not so much on mine.

The experiment continues.