Reply to DH doesn't help enforce bedtime

Forum Index » Elementary School-Aged Kids

Reply to "DH doesn't help enforce bedtime"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Are you in the house when this is all happening? Can you let DH handle everything else and then you go in at 8:35 and turn off her light and give her a hug good night? My oldest is 11 and he will read all night long if I don’t go in for one last tuck in and goodnight and make sure he turns off the light. [/quote]

Op here. I am, and usually do give a 5 minute warning then come around 8:35 to have her do lights out ... but he's in there and I shouldn't have to! And if I do, he doesn't make sure it happens. Half the time, he's the issue, just distracting her or letting her read/iPad longer until I come in there again. It's just so irritating that he won't enforce a reasonable bedtime. It's not like I'm trying to make her go to bed at 7pm[/quote]

Is this the only issue where he drops the ball or is it a pattern of behavior? If it's the only issue, then you triage the problem and let it go. If he's repeatedly showing that he can't present a united front with parenting decisions, then it's time for a Come to Jesus talk and therapy if he's not willing to change.

First step is removing the iPad from bedtime. Have it shut off BEFORE bedtime, at 7:00 or 8:00 or however early it needs to be. And put her lights on a timer and talk with her about why it's important that she needs to get enough sleep. An 8 year old is old enough to recognize how she's feeling in the morning, and take some responsibility for her own sleep needs. Don't impose the light timer on her, get her buy in and decide a time together. Maybe 8:40 or 8:45 so she feels like she's getting a win in the decision. Preferably your DH will be involved in these conversations, but if not, then just explain it and tell him his options are to get onboard without undermining you, or wake up with her in the morning.

FWIW, we're currently going through these bedtime negotiations with my 8 year old as well. Without the DH issue though. She will stall and stall at bedtime, then beg for more reading time when it's lights out (9:30 for her, but she doesn't have to wake up until 7:30). She complains she doesn't have enough time to read, so we talked about how we can start bedtime earlier so she can read longer, but still needs to have lights out on time so she's not tired in the morning. She's still stalling and complaining, but when I remind her it's HER choice when she starts bedtime, she's good at acquiescing and is asleep within minutes of the light going out. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics