‘Why my children have to go to bed on time even during the summer holidays’

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Own peace of mind

“Our kids go to bed at 8:30 every night—whether it’s a weekday, weekend, or vacation,” says Clint. ‘That regularly results in nagging – ‘Daddy, it’s summer vacation!’ – but in the end they will be there in time. Why do I also send them upstairs early during the holidays? Of course I want them to get enough sleep and it’s part of our routine. But above all it is for my own peace of mind.’

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Selfish

Clint gets up very early every day for work and therefore goes to bed early at night. Between half past eight and half past ten in the evening is the only time of the day when he is alone with his wife. ‘Then we’ll snuggle up on the couch together or discuss things that aren’t intended for children’s ears,’ he says. “I don’t want that time taken away from us during summer vacation because our kids want to stay up later.”

Does he consider himself selfish? ‘Yes, but I don’t care. I do everything else for my children, so I don’t feel bad about this.’

‘They lack nothing’

He knows that there are plenty of parents who disagree with him. ‘I know how much fun it is for a child to stay up late during the holidays, because I used to be allowed to do that myself. But our children lack nothing. They’re still having a great summer playing in the backyard and really getting plenty of time on the tablets – because let’s face it, that’s what the holidays are all about. Bedtime doesn’t change that. So as long as I can keep up that routine – it’s bound to get harder as they get older – we’ll do it this way. It will benefit our marriage and our peace of mind.”

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