Mom Confessions: I Find Excuses to Send My Kids to Bed Early

it wouldn't matter if I try to put my dd to bed early she won't go to sleep until she is ready...trying to put her down early will do more harm than good for me. she usually goes to bed at 9-930 but I could never try to put her down at 8 she is too smart and knows it's not time. lol

My son is only 9months so he already goes to be fairly early but I have sent my sister and brother to bed early just because I needed to get some stuff done.  But usually I tell them it's quiet time and they need to find a quiet activity to do in their room but it needs to be cleaned up in 1hr because that is bed time.  My sister will usually fall asleep on the floor with her littlest pet shop toys and my brother will read for an hour.  So I don't lie but if I need an hour to do something uninterrupted I will send them to their rooms.

I think it's really screwed up to pretend your children are in TROUBLE to send them to bed early.  If they didn't do anything wrong, it's really wrong of YOU to say they did.

If my son's behavior isn't great, we let him know that we're moving up bedtime tonight because it's obvious he needs a little more sleep.
If his behavior is fine, then he's going to bed at a normal time, no matter how much extra free time I want.  It's not fair to him.

Why lie to your kids? We are the parents. If we feel it is time for bed, it's time for bed. You wouldn't want your children lying to you....don't set a bad example.

Why Lie? Your the parent. We don't have a SET bedtime for our kids (although it is around about the same time every night) There are nights that my kids are exhausted and they go to bed early, there are nights I'm exhauster and we ALL go to bed early. There are nights we have special events that we stay up a little later. (They usually have to be good to get this, this helps with them behaving, using manners, helping etc. so they earn it) But you don't have to lie just say "it's time for bed" and when my son says "why do I have to go to sleep" I explain that his body rests and grows while he's asleep and it's how he is able to get stronger, smarter, stays healthy etc.

Sometimes when my kids seem intent on driving me crazy I'll tell them it's time for bed. Now my oldest can tell time so he'll say "no it's not!" Then I just tell him yes it is go to bed. I don't lie though. I just tell him he's driving me up the wall and we need some time apart! They don't usually go to sleep though, they'll stay awake for awhile but they stay in their room.

I enjoyed reading the comments about what time is bedtime. I am now a grandma, but the same rules apply to the grandchildren as they did to my own when they were young. Bedtime for them was when mommy was tired. They learnt that this was better for them as a tired mom was a grumpy mom. I always come up to read a short story to them, and then it was time to sleep - no discussion on the actual time allowed. May I suggest a good book to read to them, such as my new book, which has ten short stories about a car and his friends and their merry-go-round at the fairground. The kids will look forward to the next episode. Irene J Harvey William the Fairground Car http://eloquentbooks.com/WilliamtheFairgroundCar.html

lol imight do that on Biggest Loser Nights :)

Thats why I am glad they invinted DVR/Tivo I used to miss my shows, because my kids come first, but this way when they go to bed I get an hour or so to watch my shows then clean and go to bed. Works out Great.