Thanks for your advice! It's along the same lines I was thinking too. I believe 8 hours minimum. He tosses around when he goes to bed so I was thinking: No stimulating activities after 9pm (computer games, xbox, etc), reading from 9:30 to 10 and then asleep soon after.

13 year old thinks it's a good time to acquire a taste for coffee. COFFEE! Pobably the froofy kind his mom drinks. (Shawn )

I'm pretty liberal in my political and religious views but very conservative in my family and parenting ideals. (McCain in '08!) I think plenty of sleep and healthy foods are the foundation to making good decisions and if he isn't even getting those two things then how in the world can he focus enough to decide on anything else?

[ 08-15-2006, 11:02 AM: Message edited by: CrewChief ]

When they hit the adolescent ages and hormones start raging their nights and days can get mixed up. Forgot where I heard this but it sent of bells of my middle school years when I could hardly sleep all night. I recently heard that an adult needs 10-12 hours sleep. I'll take that if I can get it. LOL! I'd say definately 8 for a school age child and that is a mom opinion I have no medical or psychology background.

As for making their own decisions, not alot. What kind of cereal does he want for breakfast-yes if it is healthy. One thing that really gets under my skin anymore is the lack of parenting that children get. I am conservitive (even if I can't spell it) and my religion teaches me different than all these "modern" parents I see on TV. Anyhow we are parents need to guide and teach our children. Why should we stop when they are two? Your instincts are there for a reason. Use them. Or just threaten to call Dr. Phil. Ha Ha.

Informal survey. No right or wrong answers. Thanks in advance for your help!

1. How many hours of sleep does the average 13 year old boy need?

2. Based on a 6:30am wake-up call, what is a reasonable bedtime?

3. 13 year olds seem to need to make a lot of their own choices. What choices should they make for themselves and which ones should their parents continue to enforce? Big question, I know, so just whatever you think are the major points.

Thanks tons!!!

Shawn! I have that t-shirt!!! It says "Yeah, it's got a Hemi." on the front and "Sweeeet" on the back. It's the same color as the Go-ManGo! R/T I had so I could only wear it when I wasn't driving my car. I didn't want to look like a complete goober. My husband got the shirt for me somewhere.

I feel truly blessed to be an at-home mom and relish every day of it. I have a sister, though, who would be a complete train wreck if she stayed home with her kids. And the kids wouldn't be happy either. My other sister is the in-home day care provider so it's still 'all in the family'. Speaking of that, I'm a "Great Aunt" again today. My niece just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. The hysterical thing is that now two of my sisters, who are only 43 and 42, are both grandmas!!! The 42 year old is now a grandma but also has three boys who are in 10th, 4th and K this year! Whooo weeee That's why she works!!!!!

I'm just glad that I don't have to carry more than my share of the 50/50 deal anymore. I used to spend it faster than he could make it but he's finally catching up. It's about time, that's all I can say!

Hubby works for a Fortune 100 company and I can tell you that, even though he's a workaholic, the company gives tons to charity and also works very hard to make sure their employees have a realistic work/life balance. The sad truth though is that many companies don't pay a working wage and parents have to have two incomes.

PTOCEs He needs to get u a T-Shirt

"He thinks my tractors sexy"

CC We need Tshirts that say

"Yes, Its a HEMI under there"

My whole family has been prety lucky my twin bro, my two little bro's wives have, and hopefully my littles sis (not yet but twins do skip 2 her generation) all gotten 2 stay at home with the kids, plus me-- 8yrs at home has been the coolest (even better than getting 2 use million $$$ military equipment taking on commies and dictators and their ilk)even with the (OH your an at-home-dad.....

I wish all of the people on the Forbes 500 would donate $$$ so all parents had a chance to do what quite a few of us have done... (part because I love it and part I just have a prob with others raising my kids)

Off to whoop TX butt at SF in Dynasty Sim Baseball (57 W-38 L -- Division title or BUST)

[ 08-14-2006, 10:36 PM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

I would love to be able to stay at home. Then I could do everything, including mowing ( because I love to mow ). CC and ScottMom - what line of work is your hubby's in? And CC you know, mine can work for/with your's it's not THAT far of a drive [img]smile.gif[/img] I would love for either one of us to stay home. Maybe I wouldn't mind putting those creases in the "right" place....haha
Oh, we have that same deal CC but I need to put the same clause in mine as you have in your's. He shouldn't act like my Boss. Ok, everything is better now. I came home from work and did my cleaning for the night, now it's on to PTO stuff.