Dds wanting to see dh when he comes home

[Dancergirl]

Dh often gets home late - around 8.30/9pm, sometimes later. My 2 younger dds are 9 (nearly 10) and 5 and are usually both settled in bed by 8.15 ish, although they take longer to get to sleep.

When dh comes home they rush down to see him, which of course is lovely, but by the time they've had cuddles, a chat etc, they're wide awake again and it's ages before they actually fall asleep. Hence tired for school in the morning.

But I feel a bit mean saying they can't come and see Daddy, they haven't seen him all day. Would it be unreasonable to set a rule that they're not allowed down after lights out? Dh, by the way, is easy - of course he loves to see them but understands that they need their sleep for school.

Can you get then to stay in bed and he'll come up and tuck them in? Perhaps with the offer of a bribe treat if they stay in bed?

I tell my two that Daddy will come up to them and give them a goodnight kiss, I our house there is absolutely no getting out of bed until morning (except to go to the loo).

Is he there in the morning to chat to over breakfast? They probably want to give him all their news from school, so perhaps when he goes up to kiss him and they try to start a conversation he can say "That sounds interesting but it's time to sleep now so tell me tomorrow morning".

Can't he just pop up and say good night to them quickly with the lights off.