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YouLookFab Forum » Topic: * https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 26 Apr 2026 02:03:39 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Ornella on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1353569 Fri, 12 Sep 2014 08:00:31 +0000 Ornella 1353569@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Half-way through this thread and my eyes are watering. To know yet again you are all here with all the wisdom and knowledge and - the right questions too! - makes me feel so relieved about what lies ahead. My son is 7, so still little in comparison to yours Una, he's very affectionate, observant and at times very sensitive but hopefully on the right track to be emotionally literate as I like to refer to it, but I had to laugh at all the comments about feeding and mood. This summer we've been going through a massive growth spurt and all I can think of is that I can't feed that kid enough, he's also showing different attitude which has to to with school as well, the bigger or aggressive boys there as he's been processing things during the summer break, but I realise now that sometimes his mood may be or have been affected simply by this massive hunger and obvious need for proteins more than I realised. I don't know how relevant that is for pre- or teens, but if mums of younger kids read this I hope it will help - one thing I keep an eye on is hydration. If he's thirsty, he's grumpy and the difference if I make sure he drinks enough is significant. And yet again I must mention "<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Boys-Third-Different---Well-Balanced/dp/1607746026/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410509871&sr=8-1&keywords=steve+biddulph+raising+boys">Raising Boys</a>", great book that opened my eyes towards many stages my boy has been going through before and which I keep revisiting as he's growing up. It actually talks a lot about this closeness to mum and/or dad, and later different male role models - other males they download the software from as the author says, as well as various other challenges that growing boys face, sexuality being an important one, socialising with other boys and the competitiveness the other. I have read "Raising Girls" by the same author too as soon as he had finally written it and can highly recommend that book too. Although I am not mum of a girl, I want to know what the author I respect had to say about the women my son will be meeting some day. Thanks for the heads up, yet again you lead me on the path of making the most of motherhood and our life as tight family of 3. Off to read the rest. Isabel on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1352700 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 03:55:06 +0000 Isabel 1352700@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Una, I don't find what your son does conflicting in anyway.  The other night I had food poisoning and was up all night...well...you know.  So I asked my husband to bring in my son's big, stuffed black labrador retriever.  It was so comforting. I hugged it all night when I wasn't ....well....you know.  And oh, I hadn't shaved my legs either.   :  )    High fiving your son ! catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1351491 Tue, 09 Sep 2014 22:03:34 +0000 catgirl 1351491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh I get the eye roll and the "mom, pleeeze!" if I ask him something he doesn't appreciate. Also I am forcing him to use deodorant (without antiperspirant) because, well, yuck. He's also mortified about having hair on his legs. But he still sleeps with a stuffed animal. Such a transition! Good thing he's cute. jackiec on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1351482 Tue, 09 Sep 2014 21:54:27 +0000 jackiec 1351482@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have to run out to pick up my 2 DS's, but wanted you to know that you're in good company. I have a 13 y.o. DS and a turning 12 in 2 weeks DS. Grade 4/5 was when the "eye roll" officially hit around here. My guys (like me & DH) are late bloomers so nowhere near puberty, but I suppose hormones are slowly kicking in. I'm following this thread with interest & will also pick up books. Funny, I ordered a pile of "boys" books about growing up a couple of years ago and plonked them on DS1's bed. Well I've never seen them since. He hid them away so well (and I'm pretty sure never read them) he was so embarrassed. I think my guys get a little uncomfortable since so many of their friends are sprouting, or are already full man-size, but they are still little shrimpy guys. It's a lot to deal with, and isn't it always easier to take it out on mom? Anyhow I'm sorry to be so brief. If I I'm late for them at pickup we'll see a lot more than eye-rolling.... ironkurtin on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1351166 Tue, 09 Sep 2014 15:28:52 +0000 ironkurtin 1351166@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As far as the birds and the bees, I thought her school had covered it (as had the books I had provided) and kinda walked into a bunch of stuff by mistake. Let's watch Glee!  Wow, let's learn about teen pregnancy! Let's watch Dirty Dancing (what was I thinking?! I think I just forgot) and learn about botched abortions! However, having these storylines did give us an opportunity to talk about things like not having to do things unless you want to, and protection, and social ideas versus your own ideas of what's right or what to do, and why it's not fair that girls get flack for sex and men don't (at least one decent lesson from Dirty Dancing thank you very much). And why people even WANT to  have sex, and why men want it more than girls do... It was pretty excruciating for me, but I took deep calming breaths and now I do feel she trusts me to be able to talk about ANYTHING. Let's hope. Also, I did find a good way around her asking about me and her daddy and what we might get up to. I basically told her that a lot of this stuff was personal, and people liked to keep it private because - just look at HER reactions - sex was a tricky subject for a lot of folks. And the more she thought about what I and her father were doing, or her grandparents, or other people she knows, the ickier it would probably make her feel. So it was better to keep it general and less about specific people. She agreed and thank goodness has not again asked me, "So have YOU..." As far as moodiness, I more get the Disney tween "I know more than you eye roll eye roll" attitude, which I counter by simply refusing to deal with it. Wanna be snarky? Guess you're not getting what you want! Stomping around about chores? Too bad! We're also only three, and we have to function as a family, which means her pitching in too. Not looking forward to actual puberty AT ALL. But then she isn't, either. Deborah on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1350915 Tue, 09 Sep 2014 09:06:11 +0000 Deborah 1350915@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ For your info <a href="http://www.5lovelanguages.com/resource/the-five-love-languages-of-children/" rel="nofollow">http://www.5lovelanguages.com/.....-children/</a> This may be the one Claire mentioned. I have read the version for adults and it's brilliant. catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1350791 Tue, 09 Sep 2014 02:49:28 +0000 catgirl 1350791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Claire, so true! This is the first year DS did not want us to hug him goodbye on the first day of school. But he is still super cuddly like a puppy at home and even crawls in bed with me to read and talk, especially when he's tired. I will take what I can get... And yes to sleep although he fights it and always has. He wakes his dad up at 5 am to go to the gym! I am trying to convince him that he can practice hoops all he wants but sleep is what will make him grow stronger. Best thread ever! Thank you and any more advice welcomed.... Anonymous on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1350712 Tue, 09 Sep 2014 01:23:54 +0000 Anonymous 1350712@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Una, you have gotten some great responses. I wanted to say to be sure that he is getting sleep. A friend with an 11 year old who has been moody found him up in the middle of the night playing video games. I guess it had become a habit. Hang in there. It will get better eventually. Have you taken a trip together to someplace special...like Mexico or Spain to practice his Spanish, England to see Stonehenge, among other things, Germany to explore castles? Anonymous on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1350591 Mon, 08 Sep 2014 23:38:37 +0000 Anonymous 1350591@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Una, you have gotten some great advice on this thread.  I'll just mention one thing that I don't think anyone has brought up. At a certain age, my son didn't want to hug me much anymore, and certainly not in front of anyone, yet he was still very physical. He loved sports and to roughhouse with his Dad and friends. There is a book called The Five Languages of Love or something, and I think his Love Language is definitely physical touch (non-sexual). I found that when he was grumpy and moody, a shoulder rub by me was VERY well received (assuming his stomach was already satisfied). It would turn him from a monster to a complete puppy dog. It's like he needed that reassuring, loving touch from me but hugging made him feel weird and wrestling wasn't appropriate. You might try this if your DS grows out of the snuggling stage, but enjoy it while it lasts! You are raising a great kid! Isabel on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1350373 Mon, 08 Sep 2014 19:06:45 +0000 Isabel 1350373@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ With my daughter, she likes her book for "reference".   Whatever that means, lol.  We talked about everything too and my DH with my son - who is just very matter of fact.  I have overheard her talking to a friend and saying, " My book says....".  So she feels a little independent too which is a big part of this age.  I know that she was very embarrassed with me but  then looked up some things in the book to dovetail with what I had said.  ( I read the book first and pointed out chapters or pages for questions that she might have..it worked well for us.  I also went over the table of contents with her.  ) AG and Deb, you guys are so right in that we don't want to give them more than they can emotionally handle yet we want to guide them as best as we can.  This is such a tough time.  There is just so much going on biochemically and so much pressure to be older and act older....and KNOW everything.  catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1350353 Mon, 08 Sep 2014 18:35:33 +0000 catgirl 1350353@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks, Deb! My thoughts on a book were that he could read it in private, when he felt up to it, instead of always having to talk to me with a pillow over his face. We have already covered the gay issue as we have many gay friends, some with kids, and he is also a big Macklemore fan ("Same Love"). It's good to know other people are at the same point with their kids this age - I don't want to bring up more than he needs to know, but i also don't want to leave him floundering in the dark and learning misinformation! Your poor babysitter! Deborah on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1349994 Mon, 08 Sep 2014 06:06:21 +0000 Deborah 1349994@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Una sounds like you had a really precious time with your young man:)  I can't recommend any reading materials at this point and most of what I would read would be faith based and I appreciate that might not suit you.  I have found talking has been the best avenue.  We have also had the talk this year and covered quite a few topics.  We tend to address them as they come up. We do have a book that I have used with M11 since he was about 4 or 5 which is a children's book called 'Everyone Has  A Bottom" which is designed to help children protect themselves from sexual abuse.  It teaches them that "from my head to my toes, I say what goes".   It is an excellent method for teaching children that no one else has a right to their bodies.  Very clever book.  It uses all the correct words for body parts and one night when my best friend (who at the time was not a mum) was babysitting, M11 asked he she would read it to him... she nearly died lol.  I laughed so much when she told me.  Anyway, earlier this year, M11 wanted to know what "gay" meant.  So we simply explained it to him then and there, no fuss, no drama, just very matter of fact and gave him the opportunity to ask any questions he wanted. I am also very big on teaching children the correct terminology as opposed to common slang.  Just the other night on tv he saw an advertisement for tampons and a little voice popped up with "mum what do you use those for"....gulp.  So I just explained in simple terms and withthe amount of detail I felt was suitable.  I had a hysterectomy in 2010 and when Master 11 asked what I was in hospital for, I explained, showed him a picture of woman's inner workings and the uterus.  We talked about what the uterus is used for and why I had to have mine removed.  A book is a great idea and I might have to look into it because certainly there is detail and info that I might not think to discuss.  catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1349893 Mon, 08 Sep 2014 03:05:16 +0000 catgirl 1349893@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ STW, the car thing is so funny.  He and I have always shared a love of animals, and he never got the whole playing with toy cars thing.  Now he's into the grown up cars and trucks, though!  Thankfully we do have a strong group of friends with great husbands who are role models for their kids - fishing, camping, burning things, all the things that boys love to do. Carla on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1349858 Mon, 08 Sep 2014 02:38:42 +0000 Carla 1349858@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Been there. Done that x 2! Agree with those who recommend food and sleep. #2 was particularly down in the dumps around 11, in some part around the car thing. Due to a vision impairment, a drivers license is out of the question and he figured it out around 11. Once a week I brought him to a big empty parking lot and spent an hour letting him drive circles and figure 8's, and backing up, and anything else I could teach him. After about 6 weekends of this, he got it out of his system (after all, how many 11 year olds got to actually drive a car?) and moved on to other interests. FWIW, in their 20's they can both still be growly when they don't get enough food or sleep. SarahTheWhite on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1349809 Mon, 08 Sep 2014 01:38:32 +0000 SarahTheWhite 1349809@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh wow. Just catching up on this thread... As another tight knit family of three - with our only being an 11 yr old 5th grade (also night owl) boy, I see I'm in very good company! I can identify with all of this, and am loving the wisdom from all of you! I don't have much to add other than that mine has been moody since age two and Heaven help us if that gets worse! I am definitely seeing a number of changes this year... He has also very recently and suddenly developed an interest in cars as well. I thought it was pretty random, but didn't think of it as developmental. So interesting! Something that I read talked about the importance of having a strong community of men/boys surrounding them to show them the ropes and teach them, and it also talked about the importance of struggle and pain. As his mom, I want to protect him from hardship, but it was a good reminder to me let him battle some things out and feel proud of struggling accomplish things the hard way. Isabel on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1349343 Sun, 07 Sep 2014 17:34:21 +0000 Isabel 1349343@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ AG,  the author of the following book did one for girls for the American Girl company.  I gave it to my daughter last year.  It is wonderful.   <div>This is the boys' version ( I have never looked at it, though ). <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Body-Self-Boys-Happening/dp/1557047677/ref=pd_sim_b_8?ie=UTF8&refRID=1FCMNQX4TR2NJRJNDFKF">http://www.amazon.com/My-Body-.....RID=1FCMNQ</a> I have heard that the following is good too ; <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0787983438/ref=rdr_ext_sb_ti_hist_1">http://www.amazon.com/dp/07879....._ti_hist_1</a>   :  )  </div> catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1349310 Sun, 07 Sep 2014 17:00:40 +0000 catgirl 1349310@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Isabel, thank you for the book rec! All reading recs are welcome! I got to spend the day with DS yesterday and we had the chance to talk a bit. He confessed that he is dreading "Human growth and development" this year. So I told him yes, it could feel embarrassing but it is all stuff he probably wants to know. Then because he started asking about sex and babies, I had to give him The Talk! He did the whole thing with a pillow over his face but he asked me lots of questions, some very adorable ("is there a more appropriate way to have kids?!?"). Then I told him I would get him a book about teens and bodies that he could hide under his bed if he wanted and read when he felt like it. We went to the bookstore but I couldn't find anything that seemed right for his age - they were all too old for him. I did find one book for boys and we bought that. Then last night as we were cuddling he told me he read some of it and thought it was helpful. Does anyone have a book recommendation for something I could give to him that explains sex and pregnancy etc but not too much? Some of the books had chapters on rape and sexual abuse that I don't think are necessary - right now we are just after some basic comprehension. He also told me he heard people get in trouble for laughing in the class, even though sometimes it's out of embarrassment. So the more familiar he is with what they will learn, hopefully the more confident he will be. Isabel on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1349247 Sun, 07 Sep 2014 16:04:42 +0000 Isabel 1349247@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ AG, I recommend this book :    "Get Out of My Life, But First Could You Drive Me and Cheryl to the Mall?": A Parent's Guide to the New Teenager" <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-First-Could-Drive-Cheryl/dp/0374523223/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410105870&sr=1-2&keywords=get+out+of+my+life+but+first+take+me+and+cheryl+to+the+mall">http://www.amazon.com/Life-Fir.....38;qid=141</a> This book gets recommended to most parents at our elementary school usually in 5th grade.  It is awesome and really helped me deal with my daughter, in particular.   It is written for both gender pre-teenagers, so don't let the title dissuade you.  Good luck ! Freckles on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1349012 Sun, 07 Sep 2014 05:53:09 +0000 Freckles 1349012@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As a family of 3 with a twenty something year old now I remember grade 5 being a particularly difficult one academically.  Combined with a teacher whose teaching style was the worst match in the world didn't help. I remember the gym portion of school was basically invisible and with boys who were at the age where they needed more of it after a particularly hard class it wasn't ideal.  I'm not sure if this is the case at your school but at most the active portion of school drops off a great deal just when they need it the most. On the food front we've always been very healthy eaters.  His friends not so much and it was a personal fight for him at this age really wanting the fruit and cheese while his friends ate chips and cookies. It won't take you long to figure out his needs Una I'm sure. columbine(erin) on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice/page/2#post-1348603 Sat, 06 Sep 2014 15:59:50 +0000 columbine(erin) 1348603@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My kids are too young for me to have the wisdom to helpfully comment, but I hope you feel better soon and get some sleep, Alaskagirl. I do remember some of this stage with my 5 brothers. I was in charge of tutoring them in some subjects and that got hard. They definitely benefitted from spending more time with our dad, plenty of good food and hard exercise, and from having male tutors as they tried to grow up into men. They were more dramatic and moody than my sisters and I, heh. They are much more likable as young adults than moody 12-14 yr. olds they used to be.  Cary on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice#post-1348407 Sat, 06 Sep 2014 03:39:12 +0000 Cary 1348407@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Funny Deborah! Mostly he has to use his headphones. Last weekend he and his cousin were singing them together all day. Cute/horrible! Deborah on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice#post-1348202 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 23:26:23 +0000 Deborah 1348202@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Just had to pop back to say that there are days when I think if I have to listen to one more minecraft parody I will scream! M11 also watches Epic Man (?) who does a variety of parodies. But truth be told I am really glad he wants to share them with me lol. catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice#post-1348108 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 20:54:47 +0000 catgirl 1348108@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Gaylene, very true. I have always encouraged DS to be independent but now that he's actually taking it to heart I am all "but WAIT!"... Like Deborah, we are a tight knit family of 3 and really cherish our time together. Weekends once a month at the cabin have always been a tradition and a sort of free zone regarding junk food, movies and lying around playing games. I am hoping to do that for at least another year, although sports and social activities are suddenly the order of the day. Perhaps I'M the one who needs to become more independent! I do love having a boy because I've seen how girls can be with their kind. And I think people are right that he is right at the age of "my mom is a GIRL?" - he is all interested in who has a crush on whom and other drama in his school. Luckily I know his teacher and class well, so if anything is amiss there I'd hopefully get the heads up. He has improved already so it may just be back to school blues and the roller coaster of kid-hood! Gaylene on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice#post-1348058 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:40:22 +0000 Gaylene 1348058@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Just popping back in with another comment. I think one of the hardest parts of being a parent is coping with your kids' desire to lessen their dependence on you. On one hand, we know independence is a crucial step in becoming a confident, self-sufficient adult, but it's hard when emotionally every instinct you have tells you to snuggle them close to you so you can continue to guide and help them as they struggle through adolescence. Negotiating a balance is tricky because it involves you giving up more and more of what you want as your son is able to gain more and more of what he needs. amiable on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice#post-1347942 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 17:09:08 +0000 amiable 1347942@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My eldest is almost 12, and seems to have sprouted a bit early.  A bit over a year ago, he started having anger issues.  So we sat down and talked about growing up, and how emotions like anger felt really strong.   We told him that the emotions weren't wrong, but sometimes we dealt with them wrongly, and hurting another person because he was mad was never okay (he had recently shoved his sister into a wall - not hard enough to hurt her, but out of anger nonetheless).  We decided that we'd come up with some things that he could do when he just needed some space to calm down and get over anger.  (He landed on whittling, or going outside and digging holes in the yard or climbing a tree).  Physical exertion seems to help a lot.  We've revisited the topic several times, and I definitely think he's improving in anger management. (That's not to say that he wants to talk to me or anything like that - but he's learning some self control at least). Now if I could figure out what to do about the girls that have recently taken to trying to get his attention.... catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice#post-1347930 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 17:03:18 +0000 catgirl 1347930@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I will have try the Minecraft parodies! We also like reading the same books and I have been watching some of his shows with him (Gravity Falls)... Cary on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice#post-1347918 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 16:54:07 +0000 Cary 1347918@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I also have a 5th grader, 10 years old. He is a sweet, happy kid still, but I can see some of that grumpy grumperton creeping in. He loves music, and I can always get him out of bed and going in the morning by blasting Minecraft parody songs. Viva la Vida in Minecraft terminology? Oh yeah baby! He's not close to his dad, so I'm grateful that my husband (his stepdad) is extremely in tune with my son's journey toward manhood. It's really hard to know what a boy needs sometimes! I can see that DS will need to spend more and more time with DH as he grows older. I can be the greatest mom in the world but I can't teach him to be a man. Boys are so awesome though, I wouldn't change a thing! TraceyLiz65 on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice#post-1347663 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 06:49:32 +0000 TraceyLiz65 1347663@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As the mother of three sons, all older, I agree with a lot that's already been said... I do think the swing towards Dad at this age is very common.   Sleep and food are key!   Other suggestions are walks and talks... I get so much out of boys when we walk and talk... Kicking a pine cone along the way adds some laughter as well...Something my own father did with me and my fondest memories of time with him... Part of the walks and talks are for me regarding behavior that's not acceptable. Better to address it then, rather than in the moment.   My youngest is now 14 and I can't believe the maturity level change compared to last year!  So remember hang in there and take good care of yourself... Deborah on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice#post-1347660 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 06:21:28 +0000 Deborah 1347660@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Una, M11 is also a night owl lol. Has never been a good sleeper (even from birth). Only last night I popped in to check on him. He was under the covers and I couldn't see his iPad which is usually in the corner on charge....hmmm where do you think it was ?!?! We have been apply strategies and a routine to really try to create a good sleeping habit...it's slow going but I feel we are getting there. Hope your feeling better very soon. catgirl on "*" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moody-kid-advice#post-1347644 Fri, 05 Sep 2014 04:58:35 +0000 catgirl 1347644@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I can't tell you how much this community means to me.... These responses have helped in so many ways. Kelly, Linda, Deborah, Crackers, we are all just starting on this leg of the journey... And Gaylene, Deb, everyone else on the other side- the wisdom is so appreciated. I am sick and exhausted, so will reply more later, because so much resonated here. Each and every response has been taken to heart... As for sleep, my kiddo has always been a night owl and not needed sleep. I think he needs to get more sleep whether he wants to or not, and a better routine. He is one of those who will be up with the book and flashlight all night. Cute but not healthy! It is getting darker earlier now which helps too. Misapb, Nome? Wow!