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Original poster

I don't accept "s/he's tired" as an excuse for bad behaviour

113 replies

Twiglett · 22/01/2007 19:36

from anyone

well I nod and smile, but inside I'm thinking .. no, crap excuse

when DS / DD misbehave they do it because they're PITAs

what do you think of the age old excuse?

OP posts:
Enid · 23/01/2007 09:54

yes dd1 wired

she wants me to sit with her and chill but I cant always do that

last night laid in her bed and chatted for 10 mins

Bozza · 23/01/2007 09:55

roseylea DD is apparently an angel at nursery, never cries, eats everything, joins in with everything appropriately etc, but as soon as I arrrive it starts with little things like she can't find her hairclip, she needs to hold her own diary sheet, whether she leaves her slippers there or not etc, and then continues in the car. It is also the same when she goes to stay at her grandparents although she loves it, she is like that on her return.

Hallgerda · 23/01/2007 10:00

I certainly don't accept the "my child's tired" excuse from parents who've just been telling me what a busy round of activities and shopping they've dragged their children round before bringing them to my house for tea.

(Well, I didn't when my children were young enough for me to have that problem...)

Cappuccino · 23/01/2007 10:23

oh enid how terrible for you that your dd tidies her books

mine just barks orders and whines whines down the stairs

franca70 · 23/01/2007 10:28

I agree, children's behaviour can deteriorate when they're tired (and hungry, which seems to be more the case with mine). However, sometimes I have the impression that it is a bit overused...

LittleSarah · 23/01/2007 10:31

All I have to say is:

Those of you who have these it's morning-time timer light thingies, where do you get one?? I WANT ONE NOW!!!!!

LittleSarah · 23/01/2007 10:31

Thanks.

Bozza · 23/01/2007 10:58

You just buy a plug in timer from any shop that sells them - so B&Q, Wilkinsons etc. Lots of people have them as a security device for when they are away. Then you buy a lamp of your choice, ensuring you put a low wattage bulb in so that it doesn't actually wake the child, and plug it in. If you get a 7 day timer you can be sneaky and give yourself an extra 15 mins at the weekend! We don't do this now, but did at one point.

Ours both have lights from Ikea that fix to the wall. DS has a blue star and DD has a white flower.

Original poster
Twiglett · 23/01/2007 11:02

Hallgerda .. at last a voice of sanity in amongst all the 'oh my angel-wangel is tired'

so put them to farkin' bed

OP posts:
Caligula · 23/01/2007 11:03

foxinsocks, can you do a link to your thread? (I want to know what the solution was as DS is having this problem atm)

Flossam · 23/01/2007 11:09

DS is a demon child when he is tired. IGW can account for that as 'its because he is tired' is a phrase I have frequently used when DS is throwing food, snatching toys and generally being a complete little git. It is all very well suggesting that they should go to bed earlier/nap more, but err, sometimes DS will just lie in his bed at talk to pooh bear, not being naughty, but not sleeping for more than an hour. Should I give him medised before bed and nap times?

LittleSarah · 23/01/2007 11:10

Thanks Bozza.

Bozza · 23/01/2007 11:14

TBH twig it can be tricky if your child needs a lot of sleep. I think DS could have benefitted from a nap in reception but it wasn't going to happen. Can you imagine me writing into his teacher asking if he could be given a nap after lunch instead of playing out. He still sleeps 7.30-7 7 nights a week and any deviation from this, he is tired.

DD needs less sleep (by age) but recently has been sleeping a lot, 12 hours at night and 2 hours in the day and I regularly have to wake her up for the school run. So then she whinges all the way to school.

foxinsocks · 23/01/2007 11:17

here you are caligula

there weren't many solutions but a fair bit of sympathy!

he is still doing it now - this morning, he was so tired, I had to wake him up but I was so relieved that he'd slept in, that I let him sleep as late as I dared.

he is definitely my more-wired and more- likely-to-be-stressed child (interesting what Enid said about stress masquerading as tiredness because I'd not considered that)

Caligula · 23/01/2007 11:19

Bozza, my DS definitely needed a nap in reception.

When I was in reception class in school many years ago, all of us were forced to sit down with our heads on the table after lunch break with our eyes shut. There were always a few children who fell asleep. Even in top infants, you'd always get a couple who would nap at this time. (They stopped doing it in Juniors.)

Interesting how it was simply expected at that time, that 5 year olds would need to nap in the daytime.

Caligula · 23/01/2007 11:20

Thanks FiS, will read through

Bozza · 23/01/2007 11:21

Caligula I think I remember you mentioning that on here before. I do agree really that it is frustrating to see children who are constantly tired and it isn't addressed. But sometimes, especially as they get older it is hard to fit it all in.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 23/01/2007 11:34

Agree, its all very well saying "put them to bed". Clearly you have not met my incredible non-sleeping DS

Seriously though...he's crap at napping. He's crap at getting himself off to sleep. Has been right from day one. Its how I came to find MN in the first place. He will only really nap in his cot. Occasionally he'll fall asleep in the car. He wakes the instant we turn the engine off.

DD - will fall asleep anywhere - quite literally - on the floor, in the car, on my lap etc.

BOTH get grumpy and more emotional when tired.

Heathcliffscathy · 23/01/2007 11:38

not an excuse but definitely a reason.

i misbehave when tired, let along ds, who can't think throught the fact that he is feeling crappy because he is tired, which intensifies the effect imo.

you're old school in this respect iirc though aren't you twig. you always make me feel guilty when you post about how disciplined your two are.

ds is in a particularly crappy phase at the moment. am at wits end. actually am going to start thread.

hunkermunker · 23/01/2007 11:39

DS1 would sleep for Britain.

DS2 would stay awake for Britain.

And so between them both, you see, they wiped their mother out

bluejelly · 23/01/2007 11:40

My dd is only ever difficult when tired or hungry.
And it's the only time that I ever get cross. So I think it makes perfect sense

VeniVidiVickiQV · 23/01/2007 11:40

Yes...what happened to their mother, hunker?

OrmIrian · 23/01/2007 11:40

"But sometimes, especially as they get older it is hard to fit it all in."

Oh yes...... it certainly is. Some kids go to sleep easily on their own (my DD), my eldest DS simply doesn't without loads of time spent with him. Add that on to hw, dinner, chill time and having 2 others to deal with means that he often doesn't get to bed until 9.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 23/01/2007 11:42

oh god lack of food makes ALL of my lot grumpy - DP included.

WHen any of them get a bit narky I always suggest we get something to eat

Its shocking what I have to put up with you know...

Enid · 23/01/2007 11:50

even dd1 sasys after mammoth winge 'i need hot food in my tummy'