[jrainbow]

The moral of the story is to start now living the way you will have to live at the end of Dec. If she can't sleep until 10:00 then - she shouldn't sleep until 10:00 now. When she has to start getting up earlier, she may begin going to bed earlier.

I had a night owl also. I got her in bed by setting up a nightly routine - after we got home and got dinner, we would go back and she would take a warm bath - while we talked more about her day. Then we would get in pjs, read a book, and she would go to bed - with the music on. She didn't have to go to sleep - she just had to stay in bed. And - I left. Sometimes she would be up for 30 min or more talking with her dolls but I believed that since she was quiet and relaxed and calm - it was as good as sleep. We didn't have much trouble in the mornings. Some kids don't need as much sleep but they do need to be calm.

By telling her she didn't have to go to sleep, I cut out all the arguments about her not being sleepy and by leaving, I let her be calm. She is 20 now ... and still a nightowl.

Good luck ... and have fun.