She's 15, and comes home from school by 4:30 and finishes homework around 6pm, and then falls asleep without doing chores. She wakes up later AT 2 AM, and by that time I'm asleep because I have work early. I can't wake her up when she falls asleep because not only does she lock her bedroom door, she sleeps like a rock. She's been doing this for the past 3 weeks and I've told her to stop. She says she's too tired after school, but this is taking time away from family and responsibilities.
2007-06-25 08:35:29 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
school is work for her let her sleep. maybe ask her to do the chored when she gets up at 2 AM or change out her door knob for one without a lock
2007-06-25 08:40:26 · answer #1 · answered by kleighs mommy 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Without getting as drastic as "pregnant"......which is possible, try taking her to a doctor first off. I slept like bonkers when I was in college. I got to where I was sleeping 13 to 15 hours a day and still couldn't stay awake in classes, etc. and was constantly tired. It wasn't until years later that I recognized that I was suffering from depression! Depression is common and often unrecognized by the sufferer at the time. I still don't treat it with medication but I do manage it with proper diet, exercise, and getting rest.
Call the school and ask the principal to set up a meeting time with her teachers (I'm a teacher and they will gladly do this - anything they can do to improve things they'll do). Find out from her teachers, what, if anything, has recently changed in her behavior. See if she's having the same problem in school, or if different ones have blossomed.
Be open to what people tell you some of which you may not be eager to hear. Substance use, pregnancy, depression, different things may come up. Or......she might just be going through a phase. When I was 15 I was stressed out for awhile in school with all the stuff I had to do and I was napping hard like this too for about a month temporarily as I just couldn't cope with all of the demands. So......it might be a normal, and hopefully temporary, condition also.
One more thing.....I am a parent of two academically high-achieving kids. I look at schoolwork as their "job". Is she achieving at the top end? Is she really working hard at her academics? If she is.....consider cutting back on the chores and responsibilities. Maybe it's wrong, but my daughter is going into her senior year and I have virtually eliminated her chores and responsibilities. I figure she's got a 4.0 GPA, and she has studied a lot for her ACT exams and got a 33. She's doing her "job" wonderfully, and I'm not going to add in tasks that are menial which will be a burden and a distraction from what she is doing well. She's also busy with after school athletics, a job, and volunteer work. With that much on her plate, she's got enough. So forget about what the experts say and take a second look at the necessity of chores if your child is a high achiever and already stressed.
2007-06-25 08:54:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was the exact same way while in highschool.. I would come home and immediately go to sleep...
Fall asleep around 4pm.. and wake up the next morning to get ready for school.
I just read in my developmental Psych. Class that School is the most tiring thing a growing child can do. Its more tiring than playing, running.. blah blah blah. Sitting still is what tires kids out fast ..
I would also be on the look out for any other kind of Depression symptoms ... sleeping a lot can be a sign ("sleeping your problems away") Take this seriously. She may be dealing with something you dont know about...
but... she could JUST be tired.
Puberty takes a helluva tole on your body.. and hormones..
2007-06-25 08:49:48 · answer #3 · answered by xbadlydrawngirlx 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The sleep experts say that a mid-day 15-30 min nap is more beneficial and more energizing than a longer sleep.
School really is draining and I think it's okay for for her to have a nap, but sleeping for that long can be her way of getting out of chores and family time! Give her some motivation. Tell her that after she finishes homework and chores then you want to take her to get ice cream or to the mall or something. DO this for about a week or 2 to get her back on schedule.
Best wishes!
2007-06-25 09:09:31 · answer #4 · answered by MommaLissa 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Okay, as a mom of a 15 year old and having had the same problem myself when I was 15... this is normal... occasionally. After a particularly busy day my 15 year old will do the same thing. It has never become a habit for her so it is not a worry.
When I was 15, I was much like your daughter. My parents sent me to the doctor and I came home with iron tablets because I was anemic.
As for the lock on the door... not in my house! It is your decision whether or not you let her have a lock on her door but quite honestly, at 15 you should still be monitoring her activities - especially in today's society.
2007-06-25 13:09:54 · answer #5 · answered by niknemsmom 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You need to take her to the doctor and have her checked. She is 15 not 5. This is something that 5 year olds do after school but is not normal for teens to be so tired after school that they cannot stay up. Maybe she is on the computer or cell phone in the middle of the night or up to something that you dont know about. But like I said, first make sure that she doesn't have a medical condition and then if all if ok don't allow this behavior any longer.
2007-06-25 08:45:18 · answer #6 · answered by mom of twins 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You should make her stay up when she gets home from school to re-adjust her schedule. Like the other ladie said her body is getting day and night confused. Make her stay up and not go to bed till 9-9:30. Then her schedule should be back to normal. And not that it's any of my business, but what is she locking her door for? Take that lock off. The only reason a 15 year old locks her door is to hide something.
2007-06-25 08:46:39 · answer #7 · answered by michaela c 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I did this when I was her age. My problem was that I would spend too much time on the internet at night, and would end up going to bed around 2or 3am. Of course, it was very difficult for me to wake up in the morning, so I would nap when I got home from school. Unfortunately, this only made my sleeping habits worse because I would sleep for 6 hours after school and then wake up again at 3 or 4am and wouldn't be able to go to sleep until around 7am... and then wake right back up and go to school. I eventually got over it, but it took a while. If I did take a nap afterschool, I would take a 1 hour nap. I would feel refreshed and more awake afterwards and would end up falling asleep at a regular hour and waking up on time for school.
The best thing to do for her is allow her to take naps, but tell her that she's going to HAVE to wake up at a certain time, like an hour or so after she falls asleep. Don't allow her to lock her door, set up consequences if she does so. She'll think you're being a mean parent, but it'll be better for her because then she'll be able to obtain a regular sleeping pattern. After you wean her off of naps, she'll be able to go to sleep at a regular hour and won't be as tired after school.
If that doesn't work, urge her to join a club after school that would keep her mind off of being tired, like running track of some other club.
2007-06-25 14:51:28 · answer #8 · answered by plastic_seraphim 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't give her the option of going to her room. Once she finishes her homework, tell her that the only way she can go to her room is to do her chores first. It sounds like her schedule is off. Of course she's going to be tired if she's getting up at 2am. And, also have the right to take the lock off her door. While kids do deserve privacy, I believe they have to earn it first. Let her know that you are tired after work too but you have things that you have to do and she has responsibilities. And if she doesn't fulfill her responsibilities, then punishment is in order.
2007-06-25 09:59:58 · answer #9 · answered by Rene 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Take advice from a 15 year old. She might just be over stressed with school work. I remember for the month of April, I would come home everyday, go to sleep at 4:00 and sleep until about 8:00.
On the other hand, if this contiues for much longer, you might want to take her to a doctor to be checked on. It could be more than stress.
2007-06-25 08:48:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG I remember being 15 and rushing home just to hop into bed and fall asleep. I sometimes didn't even get my homework done and most often missed dinner. I am not sure why...maybe depression, maybe stress, wasn't drugs ( at that time) maybe a growth spurt? I am not sure may be "routine" trip to the Dr where anemia and depression could be ruled out and some advice be doled out as well. Good Luck
Also she does not need a lock on her door! Do you know what 15 year olds do behind locked doors. Well if I otld you what I did you'd be shocked...everything from sex to LSD
2007-06-25 08:48:47 · answer #11 · answered by Petra 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋