Bedtime nightmare

[Geocentric]

Need some wise MN advice please! (bit long - sorry)

Every since DS was a baby I've been one of those mums who thinks she has to stay in the bedroom until her DCs are asleep (I know, I know...). But now my DCs are 6 and 4 and I really need to change this routine!!! I'm spending over an hour (!) in their room at night and it just wrecks my evening - I wouldn't mind if they were little angels at bedtime but quite the opposite

I was reading a chat thread about DCs messing around at bedtime and wondering how many of you manage to stick the kids in their room/rooms and ignore any naughtiness - I find it drives me nuts!

Also doesn't help that we live in a rather odd modern ground floor house where they share what is supposed to be an office, which leads straight into the living/dining room (all open plan here), and to make matters worse, their door shuts but doesn't have an actual door handle on it (just swings shut) so any nudge from them sends it flying open!

So I guess, to sum things up, I'm asking:
a) how do you all deal with naughtiness at bedtime and
b) how should I!!!!!!!!!

Hi,

There isnt an easy way I am afraid. Its a case of making the rules and sticking to them. This will result in an out and out rebellion and you will be pushed to your very limit! But it will be worth it.

Can you do anything about the logistics? Is it possible to move them to another room? At least to put a handle on the door? Its going to be pretty hard without.

Lets face it your DCs are going to think you pretty unreasonable to suddenly change the routine after all this time. But its gotta be done.

You could try appealing to your older child's sense of grownupness. Explain that the little one needs to go to bed and you need his/her help. Get him/her on board and you are halfway there.

Set a routine and stick to it whatever happens. Give warnings i.e. bath time in 5 minutes, PJS on in 10mins, TWO stories then sleeptime etc.

Once you have set the rules all you can do is not give in. Calmly and gently (yes I know HA HA) direct them back to bed without conversation. They WILL get bored even if it seems its going on for ever and ever.

Reward charts may help but keep them simple. Staying in bed after lights out gets a sticker and 5 stickers get a reward. Dont change routine at weekends or you will be back where you started.

Good luck. I know it can be a nightmare and you will probably feel like giving in but keep your eyes on the prize - evenings to yourself!

sigh I know chegirl, no easy way... I'm antecipating a rough time ahead, but I know I really hae to break this cycle for my own sanity.

As for changing rooms, not possible at present as only other room (ours) is v. cold while theirs is lovely and sunny. But the ray of sunshine on the horizon is that we're moving next year to a "proper" house with an upstairs and "proper" bedroms for all . Can't wait to be able to split them up at bedtime! But obviously I can't wait that long to sort this out...

Thanks! I'll have to sit down quietly and sort out a kind of game plan (and stock up on wine).

oops I meant

Well I hope it works out before you go mad or turn to the bottle

You never know, it might only take a couple of days