It’s no secret that becoming a parent often equals a big kiss goodbye to your old friend, sleep. Those mornings in bed during a weekend or holiday are a thing of the past.

Until it’s your turn for a lie-in.

But what no one tells you, before becoming a parent, is that the Lie-In is a complicated issue. Like the NHS, financial crisis and Eurozone, it’s something to be debated on many levels, with differing points of view, often ending in heated discussion.

The art of a proper Lie-In lies (excuse the pun) on an unspoken mutual agreement between both parents on a set of rules. These rules are seldom drawn up pre-baby – but they should be.

Nothing is more likely to cause a relationship breakdown and stormy row than the overstepping of the Lie-In boundary.

The rules mainly seem to consist of the equal taking of turns of said lie-in. If one parent is dipping their toe in the golden morning slumber more than the other, well, that’s a recipe for disaster.

How far a small (one and a half hour) lie-in counter-balances a long (four hour) lie-in, is also a moot point. Some parents are under the impression a 9am start doesn’t constitute a “proper” lie-in, so they should still be entitled to their weekly 11am start too. I disagree.

To avoid any such misunderstanding, a Lie-In Rota will always come in handy. This should clearly state whose turn it is to enjoy the morning sleep and how long is an acceptable time for them to remain in bed. And while we’re on the subject, the Rota should also clearly state that tactics such as emotional blackmail in the form of small children being brought in to “wake mummy” are underhand and should be avoided at all costs.

As is the greeting “Good afternoon” when mummy eventually drags herself downstairs.

Feel free to include any of your own Lie-In Rules. This particular Lie-In Rota could do with some expert tips before it’s drawn up and set in stone on the kitchen wall…

The post The politics of a lie-in appeared first on Mother's Always Right.