I have 2 very amazing children. They are truly more then I ever imagined they would be. For the most part everything is very scheduled and on time. We don’t have problems with homework, dinner, etc. It’s all on a schedule and sticking to that schedule is very important to us. This schedule is right down to bedtime! Here’s the problem though.. No matter what I try, there is always something that stalls bedtime. My kids will stall longer then anything else when it comes to bedtime. My son is the leader of the pack. He has 500 DIFFERENT excuses every night. The first is usually the bathroom because who is going to deny a child a trip to the bathroom? Then we have the “I need a drink.” that is ever so famous. My kids have given me some off the wall excuses and I swear occasionally they tag team on it. We bought them new bed (with dressers under the beds) as space savers. Well after we bought the beds, they complained about the mattress. I know that 
was a far straw, but they pulled it. This is one of the times they tag teamed us. We decided to knock that excuse out and get them new ones. Then it was everything from the sheets, to being too hot, to needing a night light. Whatever the day or the time, they stall. I’ve been talking to other parents about this and I know I am not alone in this battle. It seems like the older they get, the more creative they get. I’m wondering at what point they will run of of excuses or reasons to stall bedtime. I mean truly.. it has to end right?
I recently asked my mom if I was guilty of this when I was a kid. She said I was, but that it ended shortly after it began. She said my brothers had mastered it though. See I was an only child for 11 years, so I think many things were snubbed before I got started! My brothers are 3 years apart. My kids are 3 years apart. I strongly believe they have brainstorming sessions on what they can use as an excuse to get out of bedtime. Then I remind them, some day they will have children. Some day they will WANT to sleep. Some day they will LOVE their beds, mattresses, night lights, fans, etc. Why is bedtime such trouble? I have the bedtime blues! Please share your bedtime blue busters with me! Mom wants SLEEP!
About Bobbie
Well, first I would sit down and calmly tell them that because they stalled so much each evening that I was pushing their bedtime back by 30 minutes and it would stay that way until they behaved like the ‘big kids’ they are. Additionally, I would institute a rule/ ritual that they had to begin preparing for bed 15 minutes before bed time with washing up/using the bathroom/getting a drink. Finally, I would make sure they knew that once they were in bed they had to stay there. I would tell them they could use the bathroom if necessary (which wouldn’t mean within 20 minutes of going to bed) and they could call for help if they were sick (truly sick, needing to go to the doctor/ need to vomit/ have a fever sick and not hot sheets, lumpy bed, imaginary aches to get attention- this one sounds harsh, but if you show weakness they will use your guilt to sucker you). If they still end up stalling and causing problems at bedtime, then they lose something that means a lot to them for a week (such as a favorite toy, playing video games, going to playdates, etc) I have three children and have raised and cared for several more. If you make them aware of the rules/consequences and stick to it, you will have no problems within just a couple days. You might get a lot of tears and protests at first, but if you stay calm but firm, you will prevail. I have never had it not work, with any discipline situation, and I have a teenager, an autistic/adhd pre-teen and an 8 year old. In fact, my kids are so used to my system that they never ask for anything more than once. If the answer is no, they know that asking again will have a consequence. For instance, if at the store they asked for candy and I said no, and they asked again, they would be told that since they did not respect the answer they were given they would not receive a treat for a week. I am proud when I hear them tell their friends who try to coax them into ‘begging’ for a sleepover, money, snacks that it is not how our family works- no means no. I realize this all sounds kind of harsh and draconian, but it isn’t. Once they are taught at a young age, everything runs very smoothly. We have plenty of open dialogue and they often have more freedom than many of their friends because they behave in a respectful and responsible manner. I don’t mean to sound smug, because I am not. I am a single mother and when they were very young and I worked full-time I let my own rules for discipline slide because I didn’t want to be the ‘mean’ mom since I only saw them a little each day. Well, our life was a living hell of tantrums and pandemonium. I sat them down, apologized for the mess our life had become, made them aware of the changes and stuck to it no matter what. It has been 9 years since that day and you could not ask for better behavior. I wish you the best of luck. You can do this and just think of the favor you will be doing your kids by teaching them self-discipline now.
Last night Hannah was crying that she was sad her visit with Auntie had to end so she could go to bed. It’s always something and we’ve struggled with this too. When you find the answer let me know!