Okay, here is a question for all you seasoned parents out there. Or, if you're not-so-seasoned, but feel like giving tips, be my guest (as long as I've actually met you before).
I need ideas/advice on how to make bedtime...well, just plain BETTER. I would like to tuck my little brat-, uh, I mean, Sweeties, into bed with a song, a story, a lesson in life, snuggles and giggles, sprinkled with a small dash of hugs and kisses. Okay, that's a little sappy. But really, what do you do to make bedtime pleasant instead of threats, spankings, yelling, and the like??? Even when I have my mind set on a positive "tucking in", it ends up that they don't listen, or they goof off so long they don't get a story, and then there's tears and fits of rage followed by spankings, etc. You know the drill. It's one thing when Daryl is home and we can tag team, and then we all enjoy bedtime more. But most of the time its just me, myself, and I. Lemme hear ya now, home girls! I know you're out there.
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9 comments:
Start early!! Two hours before bedtime, start winding things down. Thats when the pajamas go on and things get quieter throughout the house. If you can, turn off the TV and everyone reads (together, or individually). I like to read a book to my daughter and wife, one chapter a week, then we discuss. They cuddle up together on the couch, as I read, and show them the illustrations if any. We encourage our daughter to close her eyes and imagine the story and characters in her head. She starts to get sleepy after about 1/2 hour.
And remember, no caffinated drinks, chocolate, or sugar at all after dinner for your kids. It will only energize them. Hope this helps.
good updating!! nice pictures!!
well, as for bedtime, take a deep breath and plunge in. when it's all done, have glass of wine. Just kidding.
no really, reading is good, and maybe making a chart of things to do and then giving a non-food reward for doing them well and cheerfully. just thinking off the top of my head.
I don't have children, but I remember a bath before bed used to zonk me right out. Good luck Robyn! Just remember, before you know it, they'll be off to college.
we aren't at this stage with I yet, but I know my brother and sister-in-law where having some of the same struggles so they simply put the girls to bed earlier. They said it helped a lot. Let us know if anything helps!
interesting blog.
I also struggle with this problem. But one thing that i noticed is..if i am rushed because i want to get to my own thing then things go bad. If i take my time and lay on the bed with each of them for a few minutes and just talk things go a lot better.
I should take my own advice more often.
Have a good day.
Jenn W
Well when my nephew lived with us I used to take him for a walk first and then a bath.Not the same when there is so much snow.
Step one: lower your expectations! ;-)
I find that the same thing Jenn said helps me a lot. If I'm rushing them off to bed to get to my own agenda things don't go as well. After dinner I start them with cleaning up there toys (if they don't do that they don't get a story.... so they always do it). After that we read. After brushing teeth I always try to take some time to talk and rub backs before I leave the room. I have found, too, that being firm is necessary. Kids will try anything to stay up. "I'm hungry. I'm not tired." We've heard it all, right? I don't give in to it at all, so they know that now. They still try it now and then, but they don't push it. (Much!)
There are so many variations to this, of course, like when you end up putting them to bed later than usual for whatever reason. The biggest thing I've learned is that negotiating with over tired children is hopeless. Basically, I just keep doing what I'm doing to get them ready and kind of ignore their pleas and protests, recognizing that they are very tired and unreasonable, not personally attacking me. Argueing the point with them only seems to aggravate the situation.
Hope you find your bedtime groove! I know it can be a VERY frustrating time of day.
One more things.....
Because I know I often need reminders about this - pray! So often when I feel like I'm butting my head against a wall with the kids it occurs to me (at long last) to pray about the specific problem. And so often the results are amazing.
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