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In a message dated 10/28/05 6:51:12 PM, oh.kneel@... writes:


> Another episode, DS is
> now choosing to stay up very late (way past us guessing 3:00 a.m. or
> so) and is sleeping past noon.  When we wake him for his horseback
> riding lesson he is angry that he has been woken. 
>

He's only five. He might not have the ability to plan for a horseback
lesson, so on those night when he has to go to a lesson, figure out how he can get
eight hours sleep. But unless he really experiences exhaustion, he might
not believe you. Sleepiness isn't as bad as arguing.

But as to waking him up, maybe start earlier and give him a warning that you
need to wake him up again in ten minutes if he falls asleep.

Sometimes it helps if there are good food smells or happy music.

-=- Now dh and I are
wondering if we are doing the wrong thing allowing him to choose
when he is sleeping half the day and so cranky. -=-

I think you're seeing it as only two extreme options: You control it or he
chooses.
Nowhere in those two do I see principles at work instead of rules.

Sleep has a purpose.
Commitments are important.

The "rule" shouldn't be he can stay awake as long as he wants to. That
doesn't make a lot of sense, if he has somewhere to be the next morning.

Keep discussing what needs to be done so he can help make GOOD decisions, and
not make his decisions simply on what feels good to him in that instant.

Sandra


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