Teen Bedtime Issues
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Teen Bedtime Issues
| Thu, 08-17-2006 - 8:49am |
My DD (17) has been routinely staying up until 1:30-2:00. There was one night she stayed up until 4:00 playing a video game with another kid (he lives with us now). We did talk to them both about this the next day and said that was just too late. DH and I go to bed around 10:30, but sometimes I wake up around 12 or 1. Last night it was 1:30; I went down to tell her to go to bed. She continued to chat on Yahoo and just said "I will!" Well, 10 minutes later she was still doing the same thing. I again told her to go to bed and she snapped me to leave her alone, she was fine and that she always stays up this late! I reminded her that she has a 10:00 a.m. doctor appt, has to pack for a week long Florida trip, has swim practice 3-5:30, then works 6-11. Her room is in the basement... she went down to her room and turned on the TV and was texting friends on her cell phone. At 2:30, she came back upstairs and was walking around again. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep because I was concerned and frankly a little ticked-off because she tends to always do things HER way even if it affects her negatively. I have been trying to get her up by 9:30 a.m. in an effort to put an end to these late nights... but she stays in her bed and it takes a good 45 minutes and about 10 attempts at waking her to actually get her out of the bed and standing. This is just NOT enough sleep for her. When she was little, sleep was very important to her. She always got about 10 hours a night, so I know her body's needs as far as sleep goes.
This whole year is going to be an experiment. She plans to go to college in a year, but I am not so sure she can handle it. First off... she is young for her class... she JUST turned 17. She has ADD and has a history of making poor decisions and not thinking things through. I mentioned to her that she COULD go to the University that is 45 minutes away next year and take just a couple of classes and work full-time before going to college full-time. My gut feeling is just that she isn't ready to handle getting enough sleep to attend classes, staying on top of the homework, and the partying lifestyle of college. Of course, there is "though love" and I have had thoughts of just letting her figure it out and sending her off. That could be expensive though.
Regarding the night time habits... we could have her turn her phone in to us at a certain time... but what will she do next year? I wish the computer would turn off at certain time at night. She loves Yahoo and Myspace way too much! Her brother (15) has regular routines for himself; he chooses 12 midnight for his bedtime every night. This seems fine... because it is sort of structured. He figures out how much sleep he needs, goes to bed at midnight and then gets up around 9-9:30 on his own. Whereas, DD just sort of allows things to drag on and doesn't think about her needs.
What do you all think about this?
Deb
This whole year is going to be an experiment. She plans to go to college in a year, but I am not so sure she can handle it. First off... she is young for her class... she JUST turned 17. She has ADD and has a history of making poor decisions and not thinking things through. I mentioned to her that she COULD go to the University that is 45 minutes away next year and take just a couple of classes and work full-time before going to college full-time. My gut feeling is just that she isn't ready to handle getting enough sleep to attend classes, staying on top of the homework, and the partying lifestyle of college. Of course, there is "though love" and I have had thoughts of just letting her figure it out and sending her off. That could be expensive though.
Regarding the night time habits... we could have her turn her phone in to us at a certain time... but what will she do next year? I wish the computer would turn off at certain time at night. She loves Yahoo and Myspace way too much! Her brother (15) has regular routines for himself; he chooses 12 midnight for his bedtime every night. This seems fine... because it is sort of structured. He figures out how much sleep he needs, goes to bed at midnight and then gets up around 9-9:30 on his own. Whereas, DD just sort of allows things to drag on and doesn't think about her needs.
What do you all think about this?
Deb

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Rose is definitely right, Lunesta isn't as harmless as the little butterfly in the commercials would make you think. Although, while every patient is different,
Its easy to assume the stim meds are causing the sleeplessness because-well, they are stimulant drugs but Ive read some literature that said its the fact that the Adderall has worn off that causes the problem
The mind is back in full ADD/ ADHD mode which means it's all over the place and cant settle. Some have had luck taking a low dose of non-extended release ritalin or adderall before bedtime when their extended release has become non-existent or overly low in their system
Seems backward but, when you put your mind around it, it does make sense and your experience with needing the sleep aid even when you dont take the Adderall backs it up
Maybe you already knew this, Wolverine; I was posting it more for jupiter but your post gave an excellent example!
I have 3-ages 14, 18 and 21(no longer at home)-they all have this schedule and so do their friends. I know because it drives DH crazy and he asks their friends and dates, just sure someone is going to say "No, sir, I am in bed by 930 every night and up be 6 AM every morning with a smile on my faxe"
I mean, who did he think the boys text messaging and IM ing with??? It's typical-many kids may be doing it under their parents radar but they're doing it!
Summer? I dont care. If they can get up by their alarm and make it to work on time without getting fired, its none of my business to tell them whether or not they have gotten enough rest. DS1 was never late for work; ds2 overslept one time in his first weeks of a new job. Work called the house and I woke him-only time I recall waking either of the older two in years-I also told him to be sure they had his cell number because this was his job and his resposibility.
Dropped DS2 at college yesterday-his earliest class is 11 and he has an evening class. Same for his roomie.
I have no control over how late he stays up; Im sure he will toddle off to class with 3 hours of sleep at times. I DO have control over whether I will continue to pay for college if he flubs up. He knows that-he has one semester. Then it is in his hands
Deb
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