July 28, 2008 | In: Faith
Accountability and Bedtimes
It’s 11:19pm and I’m supposed to be in bed by 11:30pm.
It’s important for me to get a good night’s sleep so that I’m not “Grumpy Mommy” because when Mommy is grumpy, the kids are grumpy and that makes Mommy grumpier, which makes the kids even grumpier, which makes Mommy….well, you get the idea.
In addition to bouts of grumpiness, I can also be a pretty undisciplined, wimpy, selfish person.
I need help and I readily admit it.
So, I have a friend that I’m accountable to. We help each other do what we don’t want to do.
Like go to bed on time.
Goodnight.
What time do you go to bed and wake up?
Are you accountable to anyone for anything?
17 Responses to Accountability and Bedtimes
truevyne
July 29th, 2008 at 4:18 am
I’m usually asleep before 11 and wake up before 8. That’ll change in a few weeks when I start driving my son to high school. Panic!
I have an accountability partner and friend. Though she lives out of town, we pray and talk together Monday mornings and share what we need to be the best we can be for the Lord and those around us.
Sarah Chia
July 29th, 2008 at 4:19 am
I admit that I’m too easily swayed by my husband.
For good rest, I *need* to go to bed at 10. 10:30 is pushing it. (I wake up anytime between 6:30 and 8 – depending on the baby)
But he often talks me into staying up until 11:30 or midnight watching Heroes online or doing a Sudoku puzzle or “something else.”
Of course, he pays for it the next day, but somehow it doesn’t stop him from trying again.
annie
July 29th, 2008 at 4:48 am
I try to be in bed by 11:00. I am up at 5:00. I drink a lot of coffee.
euphrony
July 29th, 2008 at 5:26 am
On a typical day, I will of my own accord stay up till midnight or 1 and get up around 6 to get ready for work.
The story of a friend from college: he was night manager at the Kinkos across from campus, working a full 40 hour week there. He was also usually taking a 15 or 16 hour course load. He was active in social things. He normally slept from 1 to 3 in the afternoon. I kid you not – two hours a day max. I spent a weekend with him and a bunch of other people once: when everyone else was going to bed he pulled out some cards to play Solitaire for a while before hitting the books to study.
Amy
July 29th, 2008 at 7:09 am
I hate going to bed. I’m like a little kid. Plus, I’m a nightowl. and I pay for it every morning.
Peanut
July 29th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I go to bed as soon as the boss (my son) lets me…usually between 10-12… and after waking through the night to feed the boss, my other boss (my daughter) wakes me between 6-7am. I’m a very tired mommy just waiting for naptime.
My husband tries to be my (univited) accountability partner, but I just get mad at him. I need to work on that!
Kristin
July 29th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I usually am asleep by 11pm also. I have been trying to get up at 6 am so that I can have quiet time in the morning, but it hasn’t worked yet… due to baby waking up at 5 or 6, and one morning forgetting to set my alarm.
That is however my goal!
So how do you hold each other accountable, does she call you and tell you to go to bed, or do you ask each other the next day?
charity
July 29th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I used to have trouble waking up early because I’m a night owl.
So I told my kiddos they could pour cold water on me if I did not wake up for God time.
That solved the staying up too late problem for me.
And yes, they have poured water on me
Christina Scott
July 29th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I’ve never been able to wake up to an alarm
like no matter what….. any tips???
ceis8009
July 29th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I understand the concept of accountability, but how does it work in real life? Does your partner ground you, nag you, just listen?:) Is your motivation not to fail, not to disappoint?
tracy
July 29th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Regarding bedtime, no one is the boss of me and I can stay up as late as I want! Sometimes, when I’m feeling really wild, I stay up as late as 11:30pm. I know … I’m wild like that. It’s just how I roll (attempts cool hand sign but fails miserably).
jamee
July 29th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I like to be in bed by 10, asleep by 1030. I like* to get up at 530 to have quiet time and hit the gym. However, satan likes to wake the children when I try to be obedient so I have realized that if I get one or the other gym/quiet time in then I will do the other during nap time…..
*by like I mean I feel better AFTER I do it, but I have to force myself out each day. I meet a friend at the track at 6 once a week and we walk fast and talk fast for an hour and a half. I get to kill two birds with one stone! That is how accountability works for me….meeting someone outside of my house…. don’t know about bedtimes…..
Chris Livingstone
July 29th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Kat,
As a teacher, summers present no limits on my time which makes for two possibly rough transintions each year. This summer I’ve been enjoying late nights and some really great conversations.
During the year, I try to get up by 5:30, go for a run or do push-ups/sit-ups, take a shower, get time with the Lord, and arrive to work by 7:30. Most school nights, I aim for 10:30.
Yours in Christ,
Chris Livingstone.
Jonathan Paul
July 30th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I’ve been working late, lately. I tend to go to bed around midnight or one or two or…
Most mornings I’m up around eight or nine.
deemus
July 30th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I can’t sleep before 11pm due to being a natural nightowl.
But I try to go to bed by 10, then watch TV to make myself tired.
Then I wake up around 5:30 when my daughter goes to work at the bakery she works at. Sometimes I can manage to go back to sleep, but not very often.
I too am curious about the accountability logistics. I have a friend and we talk but not sure how to implement?
Maybe a dinner for a failed event? I do love Samarai Steakhouse.
Kelly
July 30th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Dear Kat, per moi, it could go either way. I slept ~2am Wednesday and woke up ~5am for my 1.5 hour drive to work. Additionally, I am still awake but I do intend to go to sleep at 12m as a treat in order to wake up at 4am.
Praise God for strength, etc, for I could not do it on my own without His help!
OurFamilyIsHis
July 31st, 2008 at 3:53 am
Before my youngest was born, I was going to bed around 11pm and waking at 4am. I did this for some unseen reason. I just naturally picked up that schedule with no alarm clock. Now that we have a 6 month old with special needs, sleep has become a much desired and sought after commodity. His schedule looks like:
8:10 – go to bed, then wake at 8:50, 10:30, 2, 4, 5, and a final wake at 7am. Sleep isn’t happening much because not only does he take ridiculously short daytime naps, but I also have a 3 year old wild man to take care of. So I can’t “sleep when he sleeps”. But it’s a season of life we are in now and one day I will be able to sleep.