Why My Kids Wake Up “Whenever” (And That’s On Purpose)

Here’s the part that gets side-glances and judgment from other homeschool parents:

My kids wake up… whenever.

Why? Because while they’re sleeping, I get everything done.

I wake up around 6 a.m. to clean, prep breakfast, try to squeeze in exercise and meditation — and handle the things that require quiet. Meanwhile, my kids usually wander into my orbit around 8 a.m., sleepy-eyed, prompting me to ask:

“Why are you up??? You went to sleep at like, 2!!”

Mom of the year, I know. LOL.

But here’s the thing: they always get a full breakfast. They expect it. They rely on it.

And that consistency matters more than the clock.

Structure That Moves With Real Life

I’m a working mom. My routine has to work with my life, not against it.

Structure has to be flexible.
And flexibility has to be built into the structure.

When I forget that — when I try to force rigidity — those are the days everything feels like it’s falling apart. The overwhelm creeps in fast.

So we adapted.

Yes, My Kids Do School at Night

This surprises people the most.

My kids only do about 1–2 hours of formal instruction a day — worksheets and instructional videos — and they do it at night.

When I tried to do school during the day, we always missed it. Every single time. It didn’t matter how good my intentions were.

So I stopped fighting reality.

Some may skeptically ask, "Who does school at night?"

My kids do.

Instead of beating my head against a brick wall, I decided to build a nice, comfy glamping tent against it and used it to my advantage.

Results Matter More Than Appearances

Here’s the part that people don’t always see:

My kids read above grade level.
They understand routines.
They understand that routines evolve based on circumstances.

Learning doesn’t stop just because we close a workbook.

During the day, I work from home, so they still see me. When I travel or go out for work, I usually take them with me — because real life is one of the best classrooms there is. Social studies, communication, community awareness — it all happens naturally.

Letting Go of Public School Conditioning

One of the biggest keys to homeschooling is letting go of the conditioning we received in public school — the idea that routine equals rigidity, and rigidity equals discipline.

That was a myth.

In reality, many of us were stifled. Adaptability was discouraged. Creativity was punished.

So now, when parents homeschool, they’re afraid to adjust their routines — even when something clearly isn’t working — because they don’t want to look “weird.”

But if your kids are learning, why try to fit a round peg into a square hole just to meet someone else’s expectations?

This is your journey. t Own it.

If you’re ready to release rigid expectations and explore learning that adapts to real life, our Support Library includes flexible resources designed to meet families where they are.

👉 Explore Flexible Learning Resources