Obviously I didn't read the how-to-be-a-parent how-to book

     Tonight, like many others, I find myself perplexed and stressed over what should be a simple routine. Bedtime. I thought that infants and toddlers were difficult. I swore that preschoolers and nap-times would be the death of me. I knew if I held out from all those long nights of reading stories, going to the bathroom, getting glasses of water and lying down 'just for a minute' that I'd have it made. . .err, NOT!

     The teen and preteens in our house are just as difficult if not more so. Nightly I hear the same ole same ole. There isn't many nights when I don't hear just one more question. IN fact, even the "I love you mama" becomes stressful when its repeated by three children four or more times over a course of a half hour all in a simple ploy to delay the silence that precedes slumber. I cannot imagine that this will become easier. Sigh.

      I have opted to modify our routine from a more structured (supposedly)  process to a more lenient one. The new routine includes going into the bedrooms at the previous bedtimes and allowing the children to stay up as long as they do not exit the room. The question and answer session have ceased. I am refusing to engage. This will be most difficult on my part. The requirements are no electronics of any sort(no radio until lights are out), no talking ( including questions) and  no leaving the room. The new routine also requires that ALL h.w., chores and personal matters must be taken care of prior to the non-bedtime bedtime. The consequences for not following the rules is not having free time the next day which is very import to the two youngest. I'm not quite sure what consequence would best suit my 13 yo.

So here is how it went:

Child 3 (the 11 yo boy)- in room a few minutes past the designated time(8:30, he had a church activity that ran over) but then followed rules until he called me in to say good night when he got into the bed at 9. I told him I was not coming and to be quiet but would come later. I went to him about 10 minutes later.
 Child 2 (a 12 yo girl)- I caught her discussing her attire with her sister 15 minutes after set bedtime and took her back into her room and explained she wasn't to leave and she would lose the next day's privileges. She went back in and I didn't have any issue after that. She was in the bed about 9:15.
Child 3 (13 yo girl)- Her time is 9pm. She exceeded her time by a few minutes although she knew since 3:30 today what would be occurring. She had the most time to prepare as the other two had church activities and she did not. She made her way into the room and after several more minutes she was talking and I reminded her again.

The lights are out, the radio is on and I hear no talking' its 9:41. I have been known to not have anyone quiet at this time even after beginning at 8:30!