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-----Original Message-----
From: lreinbach <laura@...>
My kids(ages 4 and 2.5) have a bedtime and it is mainly so I can have
some quiet time in the evening to watch tv or read. I feel like I
really need that time because I don't usually get it during the day.
At this point in my kids lives they still want me to play with them or
just sit with them while they are watching tv or whatever. So I feel
if I stop with the bedtime then I will lose my quiet, alone time. Is
that a selfish reason? How can there be a balance?
-=-=-=-=-
They're still *really* little. I can't imagine that they're even able to stay up too late! But
I have two big sleepers, so I'm always amazed at how late other kids can keep going! <g>

I think it's much more important that they learn to give you space when you need it than to set
up arbitrary bedtimes in order to get it. But they are really little! I'll use my Aunt Celie's
advice: enjoy it while you got it 'cause you're gonna miss it when it's gone!

ENJOY the time you play with them and sit with them while they watch tv! It won't last forever!
And you WILL miss it when they move on to bigger and better things!

I understand the need to have alone time. I get mine mostly in the mornings---no one's awake at
6:30 but me & the dogs! <G> You may need to alter your scheduled alone time! <g> But you can
also explain to them how you need some quiet time in the evenings. They may want to just fall
asleep in your arms as you watch tv or read. But again---they are sooo little! I bet with a
little warm milk (or nursing), a bath, and a few books or songs, they would be asleep anyway
within 1/2 hour!

We're NOT saying that such young children should be awake until you retire @ midnight! But you
*can* make bedtime a pleasant time FOR them---something they look forward to---even if that
means you get 1/2 hour less time for yourself alone.

Are they not tired at the end of the day? Do they *want* to stay up? Do they fight sleep? Do
*you* understand that they'll sleep when they're tired? Won't they???
~Kelly Kelly LovejoyConference CoordinatorLive and Learn Unschooling Conferencehttp://liveandlearnconference.org


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