It was 7:15 a.m. on a Monday, and my 12-year-old son, Leo, was still snoozing away in bed. Meanwhile, his younger sisters were already awake, grumbling about breakfast options. Their mother was nearly ready for her teaching day, and I was scrambling to get everyone out the door so I could head to work. But Leo was a no-show, buried under his blankets. I’ll admit, I lost my cool for a moment.
I stormed into his room, flipped on the light, and launched into a mini lecture about how he was holding everyone up. I told him that life wasn’t going to wait for him to get it together. Leo didn’t budge; he just threw the blanket over his head and emitted a long groan.
“You better be out of that bed in two minutes!” I declared, attempting to sound authoritative, but honestly, I was too worn out to think of a proper consequence. So, I left him there, the threat hanging in the air.
This isn’t exactly a rarity for Leo. He’s consistently the last one out of bed. During the week, we can usually rouse him by 7 a.m., but Mondays? That’s a different story.
Interestingly, this reluctance often begins on Saturday night. He starts lamenting about returning to school on Monday, and by Sunday, he’s practically dreading it. By the time Monday rolls around, it morphs into an anxiety-filled battle that keeps him glued to his bed. Sure, we’ve tossed around the idea of letting him skip school rather than engage in a daily power struggle. But I know that’s not the way to teach him about responsibility.
Honestly, this past Monday, I was fed up. I was tired of flipping on his light, of tugging at his covers, and of yelling from downstairs, “Are you up yet?” until my throat felt raw.
In many ways, this is a typical “tween” issue. I remember being the same way at his age, and I know I’ll likely face this with my younger daughters soon. But I often overlook a key factor in these moments: my struggles with Mondays. I, too, dread the start of the week, and that feeling usually creeps in on Saturday. When Leo drags his feet on a Monday morning, it amplifies my own irritation and frustration, making it challenging for me to parent effectively.
Reflecting on this, I realize I hold Leo to a higher standard than I do myself. Yes, I’m meant to guide him in tackling the challenges of a new week, but he’s just as human as I am. After all, people have loathed Mondays since the workweek began. Unlike me, he hasn’t had years to adjust to the reality that staying in bed won’t make Monday disappear.
As parents, we often find that our children’s behaviors can amplify our own frustrations, especially when they mirror our struggles. Instead of showing understanding, we sometimes react with irritation. After all, mastering the emotional toll of Mondays isn’t something we learn overnight. It can take years to get comfortable with the transition back into the week, and berating him first thing in the morning isn’t the solution.
I wish I could say I came to this realization all on my own, but I didn’t. After leaving Leo’s room and giving him two minutes, my wife, Sarah, intercepted me in the hallway. “You struggle with Mondays too. Why not cut the kids some slack?” she suggested.
She shared that Leo had been feeling down about school all weekend, and I suddenly recognized that I was pushing him to toughen up when he really needed empathy. As surprising as it may sound, I realized I might have been overreacting — a common parental misstep, especially on Monday mornings.
So, I returned to his room and said, “Hey, Leo. You need to figure out how to handle Mondays. But I want you to know, I hate Mondays too. I’m not great at them, and that’s why I get so frustrated when you won’t get out of bed.”
He paused, still bundled in his blanket. Then he asked, “You hate Mondays, too?”
I chuckled and admitted that I did. I explained that many people share this sentiment, which makes it normal to dread the return to school or work. But we still have to rise and shine each morning. “Mondays aren’t going anywhere; I’m sorry to break it to you.”
He peeked out from under the covers, his hair tousled and still without a shirt. He didn’t say anything but made a face, let out a half-hearted moan, and finally got up. I realized all he needed was to understand that Mondays are tough for most people, including his father. Sometimes, a little empathy can go a long way in the parenting game.
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In summary, Mondays can be a struggle for both parents and tweens alike. By recognizing that our children may mirror our own feelings, we can foster understanding and empathy, rather than frustration.
Keyphrase: Tween reluctance to embrace Mondays
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