Mom of 4 Has to Wake Up, Get Kids Ready on Saturdays So Dad Can Sleep in — but There’s an Upside to the Arrangement

Raising four young children is a full-time job, and for one Massachusetts couple, finding a moment to rest has been a real challenge.

With Paige Connell’s husband leaving for work by 6:30 a.m. on weekdays, the morning routines with the kids often fall entirely on her. By the weekend, both parents found themselves running low on energy after a week of long workdays and nonstop parenting.

To solve the problem, Connell came up with a simple yet effective plan that lets both her and her husband catch up on sleep and carve out some personal time on their days off.

“The way we’ve worked out our ‘sleeping in deal’ is simple: my husband sleeps in on Saturdays, and I sleep in on Sundays,” Connell tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Whichever parent is awake takes full responsibility for the morning — dressing the kids, feeding them, preparing for activities, and leaving the house ready for the day.

“It also means packing snacks, diaper bags, uniforms, or whatever else is needed so the other parent can come downstairs rested and not walk into a messy kitchen or unfinished tasks,” she explains. If needed, they swap days to adjust for schedules.

Though it’s a small change they implemented two years ago, it has made a significant difference in their weekends — and their sanity.

“As parents of young kids, you rarely get that opportunity, and weekends felt like we were always tag-teaming the mornings without either of us really getting a break,” she shares. “One day, I realized I’d be much happier handling one morning on my own if I knew I had another morning to truly rest.”

With young children, Connell and her husband still face occasional sleepless nights, adding to the exhaustion. While daily rest isn’t always possible, their weekend arrangement offers a much-needed chance to recharge.

On Saturdays, her husband usually sleeps in until 8:30 a.m., and she does the same on Sundays, as their kids’ activities typically start at 9 a.m. During summer, they occasionally sleep until 9:30 a.m., and on rare, pre-discussed occasions, they might sleep even later.

Even a single morning of uninterrupted rest helps them start the week feeling refreshed. “It’s been a game changer for giving us both a little extra rest and a morning to ourselves without the constant rush,” Connell says.

The arrangement gives each parent a chance to slow down, even if they don’t always sleep in. Sometimes it’s simply about having quiet time — staying in bed, taking a long shower, or reading a book. Uninterrupted personal time is rare for parents, and this routine ensures they have it.

“We both feel more rested and more relaxed afterward, which ultimately gives us the capacity to show up as better parents and better partners,” Connell reveals.

The routine has generally worked smoothly, with no major downsides. The only challenge they anticipate is adjusting as their kids grow and weekend activities start earlier in the day. On busy weekends, the schedule doesn’t always go perfectly, but they consistently try to honor it whenever possible.

“Most weekends, it works exactly as planned. Every once in a while — maybe once or twice every couple of months — we’re not able to make it work because of schedules or commitments,” Connell says. “But overall, it’s become a regular rhythm in our home, and we stick to it pretty much every weekend.”

Connell emphasizes that clear expectations are key to making the arrangement work. She recommends deciding together what “sleeping in” actually means — whether it’s until 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. — so both parents are on the same page.

It’s also important to outline the responsibilities of the parent who’s awake: “Are they just supervising, or are they also handling breakfast, getting the kids dressed, and prepping for the day?” Setting these boundaries early helps avoid miscommunication and resentment, making the arrangement much smoother.

With more energy and personal space, the couple is better able to show up for each other and their relationship — an unexpected but welcome benefit.

“Parenting can be relentless and exhausting, and there are definitely phases where your relationship can get pushed to the back burner simply because you’re so tired,” she emphasizes. “Having this arrangement helps ease some of that exhaustion.”

The routine has also set a healthy example for their kids, showing that rest and personal time are important for everyone — including parents.

“That’s something we want our kids to see, that both mom and dad deserve that space, and that they, too, will deserve it as they grow up,” Connell adds.