It’s 11:30 PM, and I receive a message from a friend who struggles with sleeplessness: “Why are you still up?” To many, particularly parents of young children, the idea of being awake past 10 PM is puzzling. But I often wonder why rising at 6 AM for no real reason is considered normal. Staying up late is merely a different rhythm of life—one that suits my body clock.
I’ve identified as a “night owl” since childhood. The weekends were a delight not just for the absence of school, but because my parents allowed me to stay awake for as long as I wanted. Many nights, I’d outlast them, enjoying the quiet of the early morning hours while watching TV. As I matured, I cherished the late-night hours spent chatting with friends or getting lost in a good book. Now, the nighttime is my sanctuary—a time to unwind from the day’s chaos.
Early mornings? They simply aren’t for me. Ideally, I wouldn’t rise before 9 AM, and thankfully, I can often make that happen since I work for myself and set my own schedule. This allows me to avoid the dreaded early wake-up call.
“But you’re a mom—doesn’t your child wake up early?” you might ask. Fortunately, my son, Max, is an even bigger night owl than I am. It took some time to transition him from a midnight bedtime to something more manageable, but he’s never been a fan of the 6 AM start. On days he does wake up early, we inevitably end up needing a nap together a few hours later.
Now that Max is older, I can give him a snack, turn on the TV or his tablet, and catch a few more Z’s without worrying about his safety. He understands to play quietly, and when I wake up, he beams, saying, “I played quietly for you, Mommy!” His idea of early still falls well within the realm of what most would consider late—he rarely stirs before 8 AM.
The night is when I feel most alive. There’s something soothing about the world settling down as I remain awake to enjoy the tranquility. Night owls are not odd; we simply operate on a different schedule. For me, the late hours bring clarity and focus. I can push aside the day’s stressors and concentrate on what truly matters—most often, my work.
During the day, despite my best efforts, I struggle to get things done. My mind races with a to-do list that feels endless. But at night, I can let go of those distractions and work uninterrupted. If I attempted this early in the morning, I’d still be preoccupied with all that needed to be accomplished before bedtime.
I do sometimes envy early risers—their ability to leap out of bed at dawn, eager to seize the day. I recall my nephew, at about seven years old, waking me at an ungodly hour, exclaiming, “The sun is awake, so you have to be awake too!” I couldn’t help but chuckle at his logic, even as I pulled the covers over my head.
I don’t mind catching a glimpse of the sunrise; I’d just prefer to do so after a night of productivity. For me, rising early makes time crawl. I’ll glance at the clock and think, “How has it only been two hours?” Conversely, when I sit down at 10 PM, I can blink, and suddenly it’s midnight.
Many wonder how I effectively juggle work and single parenthood, and the answer is simple: I thrive at night. The quiet hours allow me to accomplish so much—my boss has grown accustomed to receiving emails from me at odd hours, as that’s when I’m at my most productive. With the day’s worries put to rest, I can gradually prepare for tomorrow without the weight of unfinished tasks hanging over me.
So, no, I’m not lazy; I’m simply working when the world is asleep. This might mean I sleep in the next morning, but I tackle the day without the burden of pending responsibilities, such as grocery shopping and laundry.
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In summary, night owls like myself are not lazy; we simply function on a different schedule. The quiet of the night allows us to focus and be productive, making it easier to manage life’s demands as a single parent.