Froofy coffee with coco puffs !!!!

As soon as the kids bedroom is done (curretnly 2 mattresses on living room floor) My 4yr old son is the grumpiest for 'bout an hr -- 2yr old son is Mr Sunshine (every stinking morning) Guess which I am?

Its up by 7 (schools starts 8:15) breakfast, and get ready (SSS) -- our hopefull routine

Its been different 'cuz I'm oldest of 6 (oldest got everyone up, made breakfast) Dad taught and mom worked nights, I've always been a nightowl so my kids are too...

As for 13 yr olds, trial and error -- if you dont feel comfortable with letting him decide on an issue -- then try 2 discuss with him why.. Not that any of u do do but too many (some post above about 'modern parents') parents dont parent -- (Hillary BS about a village 2 raise a child -- It isnt the village's responsibility)

My kids have no TV in room, havent seen any PG-13 movies, Harry Potter, LoR (too scary) (the older teens have), dont watch Nick (Dexters', CatDog, Fairy godparents, etc) and MTV crap, have never seen SouthPark anything...

When we go to the park, pool, mall, public place if I cant reachout and touch them thier too far away... My wife says sometimes I'm over protective and need 2 work on lettingthem make a few more descicions (but its not 1975 anymore) I cant let them run free, too many wackos', nutjobs and just plain evil people running wild and free... When they're 18 they can do whatever they want and I'll always be there.. until till the 'Too Bad, Soo Sad.. Shawn the Magnificent is ruler and his word IS LAW... (Democracy doesnt apply till u can vote) (McCain '08)

[ 08-15-2006, 04:06 PM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

Great tips LUV! When he came down this morning, he couldn't find his shoes and his homework was still all over the kitchen table. He gets the late nights from his dad and the procrastination from his mom. We'll work on that evening organization trick to help make mornings go smoother!

We do the "in room and quiet" thing too. They go in at 8:00-8:30 and it's lights out by 9:00. They need the sleep and hubby and I need some quiet "just us" time in the evenings. They read or listen to music and my daughter likes to play her viola or knit.

I think I heard on a news program one time that the average teenager needs 12 hours of sleep. That may be true from the standpoint of a body that's growing like crazy, but it doesn't fit reality. So many kids have afterschool activities and then you throw in homework and some social time and they couldn't possibly get 12 hours.

My kids could sleep later than we let them because we're so close to their schools, but we've found that having some extra time in the morning after we're all ready for the day to just talk or sometimes play a game is a fantastic way for all of us to start our day.

Maybe try having your son get everything ready for the next day as part of his evening routine. It might help him wind down and get to sleep and it will alleviate some of the morning stress he may be having.

[ 08-15-2006, 01:36 PM: Message edited by: LUVMYKIDS ]

CC, my son likes a routine for the morning and for everyone to leave him alone. So he gets up and takes a shower, dressed, breakfast, morning dishes, and by that time he's in a good mood. But if you try to joke around with him or get him out of that automatic pilot phase, he is just really grumpy. I can't say what works for every kid, just throwing out some comparisons for you.
Also, I was 25 before I finally grew out of the no more than 5 hours sleep a night phase and I only think that happened because I had my 3rd child and my body finally figured out I needed more sleep.

You're right ScottMom. It's unreasonable to think that I can say to him that he has to be asleep at 10pm. If his body isn't ready, he isn't going to sleep. I like your suggesion of "in your room and quiet". It's the "up without issue" thing that we're working on. He's a night owl like his dad and 6:30am is hard on him. He's trying to make it hard on me! He's a great kid, straight A's, the works. But for that 1/2 hour in the morning, it's like Mr. Hyde instead of Dr. Jekyll!!!

I need to loosen up a bit too. I mean, it's only been four days of school so far. He'll need time to adjust. I just want to make the transition work for all of us.

CC, Congrats on the new baby. I remember teen angst and that's when I developed insomnia. After talking to my pediatrician, my parents decided to set 2 rules (must get up without issue at 6am and must stay in room and be quiet after 10) I would stay in my room and study or read or listen to my walkman (I didn't have a tv) and as long as I stayed within those rules, I slept on my own time. Otherwise, they would have had to drug me to get me to sleep! My 10 year old has to get up at 7 and be in his room by 10 but I think he goes to sleep around 11 or 11:30-he doesn't have a tv in there either, just reads or plays with his guinea pigs. I never have any trouble with him and he has straight A's.