Kids need to get to bed!

[DrFaroohk]

As much as I hate working long ass hours, one of the benefits I found in a +12 hour shift is that I get home after bedtime, so its just me and my wife until we go to bed.

For some reason lately she's been letting the kids stay up until I get home. 9, 10 o clock they're up. I have an early-ish bedtime myself so that tragically cuts into what little free time we have together before I need to pass out. Goddammit it go to bed!!!

[Greenday]

You should probably say something to your wife about how you enjoy your time together alone.

[elsporko]

Kids are so inconvenient. There should be some sort of interment camp you can send them too until they grow up so they don't take time away from your wife.

[Fryk]

They have those in the summer. Ah, summer camp memories....

[Greenday]

Kids are so inconvenient. There should be some sort of interment camp you can send them too until they grow up so they don't take time away from your wife.

I like to call that school.

[anakhouri]

Depends on their age. High schoolers can stay up until 10 or later in my book; but 5-year-olds need to be in bed by 8 or so. Not getting enough sleep can really mess kids up.

[elsporko]

Depends on the kid. I'd rather let a 5 year old stay up late then put him to bed at 8 and have him want to get up at 4 in the morning.

[NorthernZel]

Depends on their age. High schoolers can stay up until 10 or later in my book; but 5-year-olds need to be in bed by 8 or so. Not getting enough sleep can really mess kids up.

This.

We tried a couple of times to let Lil'Zel (almost 4y/o now) stay up late "coz it's the weekend, no need to get up early"... and every time we ended up with an over-tired child who was bouncing off the walls

So from now on bedtime is no later than 7.30 pm, no matter what day it is.

[McDreidel09]

It seems like your wife wants the kids to see you, but as Greenday said, talk to your wife about how much you want some alone time.

[protege]

I'm going to throw in a different perspective here...

When I was younger, 2-3 or so, I rarely saw my father during the week. That is, unless I'd walk him to the bus stop (less than a block away) with my mother. He usually left before I got up, and for the most part, didn't come home until dinner was over, or even later. Occasionally, my mother and I would drive downtown, and we'd get to play in the park before coming home.

Otherwise, by then, I was either tired, or in bed. It wasn't until he left the big ad agency, and went into business for himself that he started working "regular" hours. That's why we really weren't very close when I was younger. Sure, he was my dad and I loved him...but it was weird with him not being around.

Eventually, that was why he left the big company, and went into business for himself. Along with being unhappy at work, he simply got tired of the longer hours, and being away from his family. To him, the salary that he was being paid really wasn't worth missing his children growing up. Sure, after the ad agency failed, growing up poor sucked, but I really can't fault him for that.

DrFaroohk, I don't mean to sound like a dick, but maybe your wife doesn't want that for your kids?

[DrFaroohk]

Yeah I figured that's probably what it was, but I can't imagine why she's trying to force me and my stepson to get closer. We just plain don't get along. And it works better when we don't try to force it. We try to force it, and he ends up getting pushy, and I end up getting frustrated with his pushing and I take away some toy or other, and then he tells people I beat him.

I'm sure when he gets a little older and gets over his whiny-ass annoying phase we'll have more to do together (hell, I can't WAIT to play wow with him!!!) but right now he's just annoying and kind of weird and not particularly interesting. Put him to fucking bed.

[elsporko]

You should write a parenting book. Don't get along with your son? Avoid them until you do get along with them.