Mom Explains Why Husband Sleeps in on Saturdays While She Watches Kids (Exclusive)

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

With Paige Connell’s husband leaving for work by 6:30 a.m. every weekday, morning routines with the kids often fall entirely on her. 

By the weekend, both realized they were running low on energy and sleep after a combination of long workdays and nonstop parenting. 

To fix that, Connell came up with a simple yet effective solution that allows her and her husband to catch up on sleep and have some time to themselves 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, prepping for any 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 the schedule needs to shift, they swap days.

It’s a small change they implemented two years ago, but one that’s made a big 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 kids, Connell and her husband still face occasional sleepless nights, which adds 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 start at 9 a.m. Occasionally, they’ll sleep in until 9:30 a.m. during the summer, and on rare, pre-discussed occasions, they might sleep even later.

Even one morning of uninterrupted rest helps them start the week feeling more like themselves. “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 of them a chance to slow down, even if they don’t always sleep in. 

Sometimes it’s just about having quiet time — staying in bed, taking a long shower or reading a book. As parents, uninterrupted personal time is rare, and this routine carves out that space. 

“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.

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The routine has worked smoothly overall, with no major downsides. The only real challenge they anticipate is adjusting as their kids get older and begin weekend activities that start earlier in the day. 

While it hasn’t been a major issue yet, they know it may require some flexibility. On busy weekends, the schedule doesn’t always work out perfectly, but they make a consistent effort to give each other that time 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.”

When it comes to making the arrangement work, the mother of four says the key is setting clear expectations from the start. 

She recommends deciding together what “sleeping in” actually means — whether it’s until 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. — to ensure both parents are on the same page. 

It’s also important to clarify 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 resentment and miscommunication. According to Connell, having that clarity from the start makes 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.