hannah help me! By Hannah Keeley

Turn Night Owls into Bed Bugs  

Q My three-year-old seems to be operating on Pacific Time. The only problem is that we live on the East Coast! How do I get her to go to sleep at night? I would love to have some time alone with my husband after the kids go to bed, but I can’t with this little night owl lurking about. Hannah, help me!
 
A Time with your spouse is very important, and sometimes we have to fight tooth and nail for it! If your little girl is burning the midnight oil, then maybe she is sleeping in too late in the morning. Whether she needs to or not, try to rouse her earlier in the morning so that you can get her on a more suitable sleep routine.
      You can also try to create a sleep-inductive environment in her room at night. Dim the lights, put on soothing music, even put some lavender potpourri on a dresser somewhere.
      Make sure she has a nice warm bath before going to bed, and—this may sound weird, but put a pair of socks on her before tucking her in. Cold feet can often keep individuals awake at night. Also, research suggests that children with socks on have fewer nightmares than those without them.
     She’ll be warm, cozy and comfortable and will likely drift off to sleep in no time. Gee, I’m getting tired just thinking about it!
     If all of this fails, then perhaps her body is just wired a bit differently and you need to work around it in order to steal some time with hubby. On the good side, she will have no problem with late-night study sessions in college!
 
Q We live in a tiny two-bedroom apartment, and my 6-year-old son and his 4-year-old sister share one of the bedrooms. I am a single mom and I have the other one to myself. When friends come over, they often frown at the idea of opposite genders sharing the same bedroom. The kids don’t mind. They love each other’s company. And honestly, I don’t know what other options I have. Hannah, help me!
 
A First, let’s tackle the most important issue here—what other people think. Hear me loud and clear: You are the mom! You are beyond caring what other people think. You make choices because they are the right ones for you and your children. If they frown at what you are doing, then just smile right back at them.
     Children sharing a room together is no need for concern, even if they are opposite genders. Think for a minute that most cultures in our world have family sleeping quarters, a room where everyone in the entire family sleeps together! Your son and daughter sharing a room at this young age is perfectly acceptable. They enjoy the company and it helps strengthen the sibling relationship.
     As they get older, in their tweens, they will most likely want to separate. If you are still in the same apartment, you may want to consider creating a sleeping area somewhere else for one of the children. You could always trade out the living room sofa for a futon or put a fold-out bed in a corner somewhere. Be creative!
     You could also move your daughter into the larger of the two bedrooms and share it with her, perhaps putting a single bed on one side and making her own “space” with bookshelves and bulletin boards.
     There are lots of possibilities for the future. But for the present, you’re happy. They’re happy. Relax and enjoy.