Before I dive into the sleep issue, I have a funny little story to share about Justin. This morning, he woke up early and didn't wake up Cody, as we'd specifically gotten on him for doing that Saturday morning. Instead, he grabbed his mp3 player and sat outside his bedroom door, listening to music. When I got up with Clara, he came downstairs with me and, while I fed her a bottle, he sat in his pjs by the fire and rocked out to Michael jackson songs! I guess the family they were with before us gave them the mp3 players for Christmas and they are big Michael Jackson fans, so that's the music they have on there. He was sitting there singing all the words to "Beat it" . . . it was awesome! Totally had jeremy and I cracking up . . . a great way to start the day! :)
Ok, now onto my question: Those of you who have kids who share a room, or maybe if you shared a room with a sibling when you were a kid . . . how do you get them to go to sleep at a reasonable hour? About 1/2 of the time, the boys are asleep within 15-20 minutes of hitting the pillow, due to the activity level we have had during the day or that evening. The other 1/2 of the time, however, they talk, get silly and hyper, and sometimes thump around up there . . . like tonight for example. We try to have an age appropriate bedtime routine: Pjs on about an hour beforehand, have a snack, read a little, and watch a little TV. They go to bed around 8:30 and I will pray with them and sometimes read a story to them in bed. Then, they talk . . .and talk . . and talk. It is going on 9:45 right now and I think they're still awake up there! Should I just let it go and figure they'll have to suffer the consequences when they're tired tomorrow at school? Should I get really mean and punish them? Ideas?
2 comments:
Since Joey's usually out as soon as his head hits the pillow, he doesn't hear Tucker making noise for an hour after bedtime. (Helps that he's two and can't exactly hold big bro's attention with conversation!)
I do remember that my sister and I would get the "you two quiet down and go to sleep" threats ALL the time when we shared a room...we just learned to whisper to each other! :) Not any help, I know, but it's fun to remember!
It sounds like they like their mp3 player, I'd try a loss of privileges. Like if they talk and be silly after a warning at night then no mp3 player the next day, or something else they really like.
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