Many parents argue this mom’s nightly routine is 'chaotic' — but her kids ‘wake up just fine’

Every household functions differently. It largely depends on the needs of the individuals and what works best for the family. However, night owls are not as appreciated as early birds. A stay-at-home mom, Emily Boazman (@emilyboazman), recently shared her unusual bedtime routine followed in her home, and people are conflicted about it. She and her family caught widespread attention on the internet with 10,000 views while a debate broke out in the comments filled with concerns about the kids’ well-being. For the Boazman family, dinner prep begins in the late evening while lights are out by midnight, an endeavor unimaginable for most fellow parents. 

Boazman is a mother to three kids, and there’s no doubt about how hectic her days may look. In a viral TikTok, she shared the bedtime routine with time stamps for her “night owl family,” free of a strict bedtime. The family of five begins to wind down at 8:45 p.m., soon after Boazman’s husband, who works as a district attorney, returns home at 8. The mom starts with a calm evening stroll with her kids, aged 9, 7, and 3, followed by dinner preparations. Oftentimes, the girls like to help out with the cooking while the kitchen becomes a space for family time. Meanwhile, Boazman squeezes in some time to tidy her room while her family sets the dinner table. By 9:40 p.m., they are done eating and have cleaned up after themselves.

At 11 p.m., the girls hang out while their mom ties up their hair for the morning curls. Then, the kids brush their teeth and prepare to get under the covers. Boazman makes sure they are out by midnight and then heads off to spend time with her husband before they sleep. The post was liked by about 500 people, while it caught some of the fellow parents by surprise. “This is chaotic. I can’t imagine growing up in this chaos,” said a critic (@stancyinthecity) while @southbaymama1 shared, “Everyone is wired differently. My family is the same way. We are more productive and function better at night. We also work night shifts.” “What time do your kids wake up in the morning?” asked @alex_kizer. 

Most viewers were conflicted about a healthy routine for the children and questioned their late-night bedtime. However, in an interview with Newsweek, Boazman affirmed, “They wake up just fine…usually around 10:30 a.m.” She added that she does not really have a hard time waking her kids up. “Once they’re out of bed, they’re perfect for the rest of the day.” While it is a popular parenting choice to get kids in bed by 9 p.m. at the latest, this is not what the Boazman family believes in, and they nurture a kind of freedom atypical to most. This is partly possible because all her kids are home-schooled, hence reducing the pressure to get up early in the mornings every day. 

You can follow @emilyboazman on TikTok for more videos.