The clock inches slowly closer to 8:00 AM. Her starting time. 7:05. 7:15. 7:30. I return for the fourth time to wake Sophie up. To get her out of bed. God knows what time she went to sleep. It could have been 10:00, it could have been 2:00. I was out by 9:30.
But work starts at 8:00, and as the parent of a teen, it’s still my responsibility to help her get up. I’m sure many of you would say “Let her fail.” Or “If she’s old enough to have a job, she’s old enough to get there on her own.” I say this sometimes as well. But if I can be honest, the job wouldn’t have lasted long. Maybe a couple of weeks. Sophie wants to work. And I want her to work. It’s nice to share her expenses.
On occasion, I need to wake my wife up a couple of times, too. And when I was fourteen, my dad actually poured water on me to get me out of bed.
Sleepiness runs in the family.
Every Saturday morning, I’m the pest, the bad guy. That obnoxious, cheery, caffeinated dad who keeps saying “Get up! Get out of bed!” Sometimes I think that if Sophie would just get herself addicted to coffee, she’d get up on her own. I can’t wait to get out of bed and start in on a cup.
Sophie stomps out of the house at 7:55. Pissed at me, pissed at her employer, pissed at the children she may or may not watch during her shift. But four hours later, when she returns, she’ll be more mature, happier, more adult than any other time during the week.
The Other Stuff 
This is the best….I, too, the cheery eyed caffeinated early riser…smiled through your entire piece…great writing!
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I’m sure we’re annoying but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Oh, the caffeine addiction. What else to say about it, hmm, love it, won’t live without it. Oh, one more thing, wrote a ballad about it.
Another immersing read, Jeff.
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Please send a link to your caffeine ballad.
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https://penandinksketches.wordpress.com/2017/07/26/the-ballad-of-coffee/
Don’t judge me too much after this, Jeff 🙂
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You still have to get out of bed to obtain your caffeine. I’ve never been one to jump out of bed at the first buzz of the alarm clock. My husband and I work different hours now, my multiple presses of the snooze button used to drive him crazy. When I was younger I would sometimes have multple clocks in different locations of the room. I’m like a bear in hibernation when I first wake up.
My kids are lucky, they take after their dad when it comes to matters of jumping out of bed.
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Sometimes I get up early just to have more coffee and writing time. I’m truly a morning person
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Lovely post. I hate waking up early too, especially on a Saturday. I just want to snuggle in my blanket for a little more time.
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Reminds me of my household, so I can relate. I am always the first to rise. I had to waste the daylight! No one else in my house agrees, they would rather stay up all night.
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It’s easily the best time of the day. Everything, including me, is so fresh.
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“Get out of bed, there’ll be no more napping!”
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I didn’t realize that show started with an acid trip.
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Fun read! I have to get the kids up for school, or to get out the door and my daughter always spits venom at me when I do. Your post validates my feeling that she will be doing so for years to come!
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Yeah, my favorite part is where their head spins all the way around.
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😂😂😂😂😂 sounds like my dad. On weekends he would turn the radio on to golden oldies and loud as. But then he’d cook us all breakfast so he was quickly forgiven.
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You sound like a wonderful father.
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I get mixed reviews
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This is great! With a 15 year old I’m about to enter this conversation! 🙂
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Just get them hooked on coffee. It’ll help with the wake up drill.
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