Storytelling Sunday May

Welcome one and all to this months Storytelling Sunday (errrr) Monday post.  I decided yesterday to have an internet free day (gasp, horror! YEP, it is possible!) and as I hadn't actually found the time to sit and type this post it is now a day late :-)  A quick update for those of you who are regular readers ... everything is still in limbo BUT we have put a deadline on all offers as today so we will finally know which direction we are headed soon!!!!  Either way life is going to be a bit tumultuous for the next few months.

Now onto the story ...  Wake Up!

I have always thought it funny when other people have talked about the changes that take place in teenage boys ... surely some of these things can't happen to my boys?????  Both my boys have always been early risers.  We have taught all our children that it is important that they are able to get themselves ready for the day each morning on their own.  Although we will often have family breakfasts, on school mornings each child is responsible for getting themselves up at the right time and ensuring that they are ready to walk out the door with everything they need on time.  They each have their own alarm now and this has worked very well so far.  This sounds idyllic, but believe me some mornings are a madhouse around here!

The minute The Extrovert turned 14 he changed overnight.  A non-morning child took his place.  Instead of being up as sunrise he would now sleep until 11am if you let him.  We had to get a louder alarm and a few mornings I EVEN HAD TO GO IN AND WAKE HIM UP!  He has found a new routine (after I threatened to throw a cold bucket of water on him!) and each morning he hears his brother's alarm with his set to go off two minutes later.  He has time for one hit of the snooze button and then he makes an appearance in the kitchen.  He is still only half awake at this point and proceeds to make his porridge without even opening more than one eye.  I don't think he actually wakes up until we are in the car and on the way to school.  The Thinker and The Princess are still both already awake when their alarms go off and the alarm is only to remind them that they need to put their iPods down and start to get ready.

One morning this past week The Extrovert heard his brother's alarm go off through his sleepy fog.  He ignored it and waited for his own alarm.  But the noise kept penetrating his dreams and he started hitting his snooze button trying to turn it off.  His thoughts muddled, he sat up trying to work out what was wrong with his iPod and why wouldn't it turn off!  Even after removing it from the dock he could still hear the alarm.  In his hazy state he remembered his brother and grumbling about him under his breathe he stumbled down the hallway to his brother's room.  He could hear the alarm getting louder and he was annoyed now ... he could have still had 5 more precious minutes of sleep.

He knocked on the door "Thinker turn your alarm off, it is time to get up!"  But no sound came from the room.  He pounded harder and harder, sleep confusing his brain.  "Thinker!!!!!  TURN OFF YOUR ALARM!!!"  In frustration he flung open the door, marched into the room and stopped dead in his tracks.  The bed was made, the room vacant and the alarm was now screeching.  Within moments all sorts of thoughts passed through his addled mind until finally, as he began to wake up, realisation dawned.  The Thinker was on school camp and wasn't home at all! Feeling very foolish he turned off the alarm and sheepishly snuck back to his room.  On the way he passed The Princess' empty room and was suddenly thankful that she was spending the night with Grandma.  He had forgotten all about that too!

Not being one to keep things to himself he told us the story once his brother returned. We laughed until we cried.  I thought it would make a great story for this week and he is looking forward to reading about himself :-)  If you wish to join in with a story (or read more) head on over to Sian's.  Storytelling Sunday is held on the first Sunday of every month and don't worry if you are late like me, no one minds in the least :-)

Chipper