I'm having to sneak upstairs at bedtime

[grumpypants]

because dd (11) lies in wait to ambush me! I think being the oldest she seems to store up stuff, and then the moment I get to bed (11pm) she leaps out, knocks on my door, and tells me the latest on Zac Efron! I do talk to her during daylight hours, but she's too busy then on her ipod/Club penguin/playing with her dbs. Grrr!

Why is she still awake at 11pm?

Arrange for a 'talk time' early in the evening, she agrees to take off the iPod and you agree complete attention.

Or go to bed ealier!

you are quite right, usually she is asleep by 11 - half term has thrown the sleeping patterns a bit! And, I am usually upstairs by 9.30, exhausted and desperate to read a cple of pages of my book. Had a chat yesterday, and she said it was only when she was falling asleep that she remembered really important stuff! to be 11 again, and only worry about future celeb husbands...!