The Day My 9-Year-Old Outslept Me: A Sleep Coach Learns a Lesson

A lighthearted summer story about sleep, parenting… and genius-level window hacks.

We noticed a curious trend in our house: no matter how early we put my 9-year-old to bed, we could not get her up in the morning to catch the bus. Weekdays? Total struggle.

Dragging her out of bed felt like a full-body workout. She’d groan, bury herself deeper under the blankets, and protest with her eyes still shut. When I finally got her up, she was in a foul mood. She barely touched her grilled cheese at 8 a.m. (yes, grilled cheese—don’t judge). Brushing her hair was a full-blown disaster. And by the time she boarded the bus, slumped and grumpy, I was wiped out—and it wasn’t even 8:30.

But come the weekend?

Oh, that same child would leap out of bed bright and early, ready to chat and start the day. Even if she had gone to sleep way too late the night before. It didn’t make sense. Or maybe it made too much sense.

So we got creative.

On winter break or other school holidays, my husband and I started telling her that vacation actually started the next day. That way, she still thought she had school and would actually stay in bed a little longer. Of course, she knows the days of the week—but when you’re nine, the calendar is flexible if your parents say it with enough confidence. It wasn’t foolproof, but it worked just enough to buy her an extra hour or two of sleep—and us a little more quiet in the morning.

When Summer Break Really Begins

I knew I wouldn’t get away with that trick forever.

Summer vacation began, and so did my hopes for a few peaceful mornings. One day, I woke up and realized it was quiet—no sounds of Dina shuffling around or calling for breakfast. I tiptoed around the house, soaking in the silence, clutching my coffee like it was gold. The house was still. Peaceful.

By 9 a.m., still no sign of her. I crept upstairs, gently opened her door—and blinked. Her room was pitch black. The windows were sealed shut. A thick blanket was expertly draped over her window, pinned down so not a single ray of sun came through. The air conditioner was humming softly. It was cool, dark, and completely silent.

And then it hit me.

My 9-year-old had blacked out her own room.

Turns out, living with teenagers who sleep at all hours of the day and night will teach you a thing or two. In our house, the older kids go to sleep somewhere between midnight and 4 a.m., depending on the night. Sometimes I hear showers at 2 a.m., popcorn popping at 3, and intense conversations about life and philosophy when I’m getting up for the day. They’re in what  I lovingly call the teenage time zone.

Dina sees it all. And she learned from them.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Here I am, the sleep coach in the family, and my 9-year-old figured out what she needed all on her own. She created her own perfect sleep cave: dark, quiet, cool. No white noise machine, no fancy gadget. Just a blanket and some serious problem-solving.

The Real Sleep Coaching Wisdom?

Sometimes, kids don’t need us to have all the answers. Sometimes, they just need space to listen to their own bodies. Dina didn’t need more rules, routines, or reminders. She needed darkness. And she made it happen.

It reminded me of something I tell my adult clients all the time: You already have the answers inside you. Sometimes it takes a little support to uncover them, but deep down, you know what you need. Even if you’re nine.

That morning, I left her room smiling. Not just because I had a quiet hour to drink my coffee in peace (though let’s be honest, that was amazing), but because I had watched my daughter problem-solve in a way that so many of us forget we can. She knew she needed better rest, so she did something about it.

Why Blackout Shades Work (Even If You’re Not Nine)

As a sleep coach, I can’t end this blog without giving a shoutout to blackout curtains. Darkness cues our bodies to produce melatonin—the sleep hormone. Whether you’re a toddler, a teen, or a tired adult, creating a cool, dark, quiet sleep space makes a huge difference.

If you have a child struggling to sleep in (especially in the summer when the sun rises early), blackout shades are a game-changer. You don’t need anything fancy. A heavy blanket, pinned up like Dina did, works in a pinch.

And if you’re someone who wakes too early or has trouble falling asleep? Maybe take a page out of my daughter’s book. Blackout your windows. Lower the noise. Listen to your body.

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones.

Final Thought

So this summer, give yourself permission to rest—whether it’s blacking out the windows, turning off the noise, or letting your child sleep in without panic. Know that rest is productive. And it’s okay to find your own way to get it.

Even if it involves a blanket and a clever 9-year-old.

Have a funny sleep story of your own? Or a tip that worked wonders in your home? I’d love to hear it. You can reach me chevymermelstein@sleepingcoach.org or drop me a note through my website. I post new blogs several times a week—come back for more!