It was the evening of the final day of school. Our three kids were comfortably spread out on the living room sofa, absorbed in a Pokémon marathon on Netflix—one sprawled on the floor, another lounging on the couch, and the youngest perched sideways in the armchair.
“Alright, kids, it’s bedtime,” I declared. The looks on their faces were priceless. They seemed utterly taken aback, as if I hadn’t already put a damper on their plans to stay up late every summer by watching TV, raiding the pantry, and bickering over every little thing.
At 7:45 PM, the time I consistently start the bedtime routine regardless of weekends, holidays, or summer break, the complaints began. “But Dad, it’s summer!” they protested. Regardless of their arguments, they were all headed to bed.
My reasons for this strict policy aren’t rooted in concerns about their sleep or maintaining a routine—though I do think about those things. The primary reason? My sanity.
I know some people might think I’m being uptight or that I’m ruining their fun by enforcing an early bedtime. Sure, I stayed up late during my own childhood summers, so I understand the appeal. But for me, the stakes are higher. My wife and I have a limited window each evening to enjoy our time together without the kids around.
I wake up at an ungodly hour—earlier than I ever thought I would as a child—and as such, I go to bed early too. Between 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM, my wife, Lisa, and I can discuss finances, manage schedules, or handle any behavioral issues without interruptions from our kids. We cherish that time, whether it’s snuggling on the couch, sharing a shower, or simply having adult conversations that our children don’t need to overhear.
The thought of children playing video games late into the night, cranking the volume so high that it echoes throughout the house, or getting embroiled in arguments over trivial matters is not appealing to me.
Am I being selfish? Absolutely, and I’m okay with that. I devote a lot to my children, so claiming those evening hours feels justified. Let’s face it, allowing them to stay up late won’t magically make them sleep in the next morning either. My preteen may sleep a little longer, but the younger ones? Not a chance. If I let them stay up, they’d be awake until midnight and then knocking on my door at 5 AM, just like always. The rest of the day would then be filled with moodiness and meltdowns.
So, as long as I’m in charge, my kids will stick to their usual bedtime. Period.
Will this become more challenging as they grow older? Definitely. I can already see my 12-year-old digging in his heels. If he manages to stick to a bedtime before 9 PM all summer, I’ll be genuinely surprised. But I’ll fight to maintain this schedule for as long as I can because those evenings belong to the parents. We’ve claimed that time, and we’re not giving it up easily.
If you’re in the same boat, enforcing early bedtimes during the summer, know that you’re not alone. I admire you. Your kids will still enjoy a fantastic summer filled with outdoor adventures, camping trips, and road excursions. They’ll still get plenty of screen time—because let’s be honest, that’s part of summer fun. They will love you just as much, and their childhood will still be magical. Your marriage and sanity will thank you for it.
So, get those kids to bed! Fight for your evenings. Once they’re tucked in, enjoy that golden hour or two to catch up on your favorite shows. After all, it’s summer!
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Summary:
I firmly uphold early bedtimes for my children, even during summer break, to preserve my sanity and maintain precious time with my wife. Despite the kids’ protests, I believe that enforcing this routine benefits both our relationship and their well-being.