umsami Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 They are driving me crazy, They are 12, 10, 8, and 5. All are awake. It's been going on like this for two weeks. I can't take it anymore. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 They are driving me crazy, They are 12, 10, 8, and 5. All are awake. It's been going on like this for two weeks. I can't take it anymore. Oh my, that sounds hard. Did it start when you got back from your trip? I can't remember how long ago that was. Is something else going on? Are you opposed to using Melatonin? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 Yes, it started after their trip. I brought them down to do copywork and clean up Legos. I have no idea what to do. I will look into Melatonin. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Mine does math until they fall asleep. Sometimes that is after 2:30am. Nothing else is mentally tiring enough to make them sleepy. They are still awake right now despite waking up before 7am because of the sound of rain :P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 It is almost 3 a.m. and thankfully, they are finally asleep. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TianXiaXueXiao Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 My kids are night owls. They are typically up until midnight. I have no answers for you, just following cause I'd love to change this. If I wake them up early they will just fall asleep mid day and wake up with reset clocks to charge through the night with. If I try to keep them from falling asleep they become way overtired and go bonkers with delirium that fuels a 2nd wind. I will wake them at 9 am tomorrow and see if I can get them to sleep by 9pm. It's a constant struggle. I was the same way and still am so I fear it is a hopeless case. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Sometimes I used to have to go to sleep and leave Marek to it. He would come to bed when he was ready. This was bad because we were on solar and the batteries would be flat if I didn't wake up enough to turn them off during the night. Sometimes my brother would show up, expecting to sleep in the car until we woke him up the next morning, but if the light was on he'd come in. Apparently he'd sit there and watch Marek more or less ignore him (playing blocks, priorities and all) until Marek came to bed and he'd turned the lights off for me. :) :grouphug: to you. Sleep deprivation is the least fun ever. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 It is almost 3 a.m. and thankfully, they are finally asleep. Gosh, :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Yikes, sounds like a party. I'd wake them up early so they may be more likely to go to sleep at a decent time... They may be cranky all day, but it'll be worth the sleep tonight. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Has it been roughly the same schedule since the trip or was it worse and now getting better? I guess it depends on what you've tried so far. Have you woken them at a regular wake-up time and tried to manage until a regular bedtime? If so, I'd move on to trying to adjust them gradually. Tonight shoot for 2:30, after a couple days, 2:00, etc. About an hour before I wanted them to call asleep, I'd make sure the house was quiet & everyone was freshly bathed and comfy. I'd play calming music. I'd do some mindful relaxation. It might even be worth it to pick up that new book about the rabbit who wanted to go to sleep. Then just leave them to sleep. I know that some of this might be complicated (or not?) By different sleeping arrangements, but gosh, you must be exhausted. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlsdMama Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 They are old enough to lie in bed and read until they drop off. I'd be sleeping but that's because I just don't function without sleep. If the 5yo can't be trusted to lie down quietly in her own room and look at books until she falls asleep, then I'd suggest a pallet in your room? 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Get melatonin today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 I would get them up by 10 and take a nice long hike today. Tonight, I would set them up with audio books, melatonin and chamomile tea. No napping, and dial back wake up time every day. Goal for tonight would be asleep by 12 or 1. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 There are only two methods I've found that work. The first is to heartlessly wake the kids up at a decent time and not let them take any naps. You can do this in stages if you like - wake up half an hour earlier each day (perhaps the first day you wake up 15 minutes earlier than they'd been getting up, and you stick with that waking time a couple of days before moving forward) until they're at a good waking time and, perforce, a good bedtime as well. The second is to go the other route - keep them UP an extra hour every day until they cycle back to a normal sleep schedule. That's, lol, the method I used myself when I was an adolescent! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 There are only two methods I've found that work. The first is to heartlessly wake the kids up at a decent time and not let them take any naps. You can do this in stages if you like - wake up half an hour earlier each day (perhaps the first day you wake up 15 minutes earlier than they'd been getting up, and you stick with that waking time a couple of days before moving forward) until they're at a good waking time and, perforce, a good bedtime as well. The second is to go the other route - keep them UP an extra hour every day until they cycle back to a normal sleep schedule. That's, lol, the method I used myself when I was an adolescent! I've actually read your second option as a strategy suggested by sleep specialists. Iirc, the article was more specifically about teens, whose natural rhythms cause them to want to stay awake later, then sleep in. For teens who fall so far into this routine that they're missing morning school, the advice was to have them pull an all-nighter, then go to bed at the reasonable desired time the next evening (no naps!). Follow that with a stricter wake up/bedtime schedule. Sorry umsami, no sleep is a real bother. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 I would get them up by 10 and take a nice long hike today. Tonight, I would set them up with audio books, melatonin and chamomile tea. No napping, and dial back wake up time every day. Goal for tonight would be asleep by 12 or 1. Out of likes, but yes, I did wake up everybody at 10 a.m. this morning. Am planning on a long hike as well. LOL Will stop by and pick up some melatonin. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Do you have to stay up with them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Yes, wake them up ruthlessly and have a busy day. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ofus Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Just a caution re:melatonin. I gave it to 1 son once & he experienced vivid nightmares. I read after that other folks have experienced similar effects. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Be careful with chamomile tea. It acts as a massive stimulant for my husband and children. In college, he would drink Sleepy Time when he wanted to pull all nighters. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessReplanted Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Oh goodness. I am mean and would have them in bed with their lights off whether they could sleep or not. Sometimes you just have to force yourself back into your normal routine. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnerd Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 I wake my child up on time and try to be outside a lot during the day so that there is no temptation to crawl into bed in the middle of the afternoon. Then, it is bedtime as usual. This works for my DS every single time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solascriptura Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 There are only two methods I've found that work. The first is to heartlessly wake the kids up at a decent time and not let them take any naps. You can do this in stages if you like - wake up half an hour earlier each day (perhaps the first day you wake up 15 minutes earlier than they'd been getting up, and you stick with that waking time a couple of days before moving forward) until they're at a good waking time and, perforce, a good bedtime as well. The second is to go the other route - keep them UP an extra hour every day until they cycle back to a normal sleep schedule. That's, lol, the method I used myself when I was an adolescent! I ruthlessly do the first method on each Trans pacific trip and upon our return. Works like a charm. I don't feel heartless about it at all. I'm like that though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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