My dad has been on my case about my lack of sleep non-stop lately, and it’s very frustrating because he’s the one who encouraged me to take the AP classes that are the cause of six hours of homework per night, and to go for leadership positions like being a class officer and the head of the Model UN. I’m also on two athletic teams, and in numerous clubs and the dance troupe, and I am an active volunteer. I rarely finish all my commitments before one in the morning, and am frequently working until three, and since I have swim practice before school, sometimes I just don’t bother to sleep because it’s futile. Instead, I’ll read, answer questions here, draw or whatever. My dad has gotten into the habit of poking his head in my room at 2 or 3 or 4, sometimes multiple times a night and bugging me about this and telling me to go to bed and acting like I’m being defiant by staying up, when I’m not at all. And btw, he works in finance and is up at insane hours because of the stock market, soooooo, it’s not like he’s getting 8 hours of sleep at night either. I’m just following in his footsteps and trying to have a strong work ethic and be a high achiever, and it’s unfair to me that this would somehow be construed as misbehavior.
I can’t cut back on any of my activities at this point in the year, and so I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I’m 17, and am already physically fully grown, I think, and so it’s not like sleep deprivation is going to stunt my growth, and I’ve learned to function on little or no sleep. I just run a lot for energy, drink coffee and take the No Doz cocktail (which is not harmful), and I’m rarely ever cranky, ill, sleeping in class or anything else. I’ve already been accepted into the college we’ve both always dreamed of me attending, and so all my hard work has paid off.
Anyway, so would you care if you knew that your teen was staying up not playing games or talking to creeps online or whatever, but accomplishing things and had no major physical or emotional ramifications from the sleep deprivation?
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13 comments ↓
I can tell that you’re a very intelligent person, and not one to do stupid things, which is great. However, I can see where your father is coming from, and I think that I would do the same thing he did. As you probably know, sufficient sleep is necessary for good health, and being healthy should be every person’s primary concern, and should take precedence over doing all of those activities, Even if you’re already done growing, and college is already set in stone, give yourself time to relax and sleep, and maybe just cut down on some of your activities. Seriously, I wish I could be as ambitious as you are, but I need my time off, preferably unconscious in bed.
I do have to say that it’s confusing that your dad is pushing you to do all of this work, not realizing that it’s the cause of your late night work load. It definitely comes off as unfair that he would expect this much of you and, while you’re working hard at it, he criticizes you for something else. I’ve had my share of situations like this. Maybe try reasoning with him about it, voicing the fact that your attempts to follow in his footsteps are the roots of all this conflict. I’m sure that you’ll both reach an agreement, maybe to cut back on activities, or, because you’re so well adapted to sleeping late, just continue that routine. Either way, your dad just wants the best, even if there’s a little contradiction along the way.
no i wouldn’t care at all just try talking to him and your almost an adult anyways
I agree with your Dad. He is your parent and he is concerned about you. It is a fact that a good night sleep is important for good health….especially with young people. BTW, drinking coffee and taking No Doz to stay awake, is not very sensible. It is great that you are a good kid and a good student, but you sound as if you are determined to win this power struggle with your Dad…a bit passive aggressive ( I’ll act nice, but I’ll do my own way no matter what Dad wants). Think about it. You are blessed to have a father who cares. Not every kid is that lucky.
I was the same way….
My step daughter is now a sr in HS ,18yo. She too is the same. I swear it has something to do w/the time of day you are born! The other step daughter is an early bird! You won’t change much as an adult I still can stay up all night, but now I do need naps during the day if I do so, lol, I’m only 32…but do have 3 young kids.
but, you do need sleep, esp at your age. Try to get at least a few hrs. And tho you may be physically grown, your brain is not until your early 20’s. And oh I grew 2.5″ inches in the 3years I was out of high school…
i never could sleep when i was in school…. they had put me on sleeping meds….. nah as long as u got ur “crap” together then to i wouldnt be upset as a parent i guess
School is almost over, so I would say continue to do this until the end of the school year. If you’re going to be in 12th grade next year, you may want to consider cutting back on some of your activities. 3AM is way too late for anyone to stay up, and your body deserves rest. If you’re doing so many things, you’re doing each job only sub-par, instead of a few things wonderfully. In the future, I would focus on the things you like the most, and only take those AP courses.
I’d care. Sleep deprivation can be harmful, even if it seems like you’re doing just fine now. Eventually lack of sleep will start to affect you negatively. I’d absolutely be concerned if I were your parent.
Tell ur dad u just don’t feel like sleeping honestly what’s he gonna do. By the sounds of it u don’t do anything he can ground u from
Wow, you are busy! I would urge you to try to get more sleep, or at least take it easy on the weekends. I think if you do this for a relatively short time, you’ll be fine. If you start to feel rundown, then slowdown.
Look at how medical students doing their residency have to stay up for days at a time. It doesn’t kill them! People in the armed forces are likewise trained to stay awake for long periods of time.
So, no, I would not worry unless I saw that lack of sleep was taking a toll on you.
As a parent myself I’d say you are way to overloaded! If this is your senior year how can you even enjoy it? And no I wouldn’t pressure you to sleep. You are going to crash from exhaustion sooner or later.
When did dad and you stop having fun? Your question made me sad.
Yes, I would care. Its my job as a parent to care. Not enough sleep is a problem. Its great that you are getting things accomplished during your sleepless nights, but most insomniacs are the same way. Insomnia IS a problem and can be solved. Your father is “on your case” because he cares about you and your health. Even though you may be doing just fine now, it doesn’t mean that the lack of sleep won’t eventually catch up to you. Continuing this routine could eventually make you crash. And you’ll crash hard. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow. It could be years even, but eventually, it will catch up to you.
Since your healthy atm then he should lay off but once you start getting sleepy through out the day, yawning, or just getting sick, then you need to cut down your work load a bit. Sounds like your a very busy young woman and you know your body better than anyone else so keep up your hard work and take good care of yourself.
Yes, I would care. He’s an adult with more responsibilities than you, and he doesn’t want to see you taxing yourself like he does. You’re just a kid. I know you don’t think you are, but you are. He doesn’t want you to be his Mini-Me, he wants you to be a healthy kid. I’m sure he’s really proud of you, you sound like a great kid, but you need rest. I’d have taken away your laptop at night and pulled you off the athletic teams by now, and when you didn’t go to bed when I told you to, I’d discipline you. You ARE being defiant, even though you don’t see it that way. What’s the No-Doz cocktail?
Please get some sleep and just be a kid. Have some fun, okay?
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