Why don't children like sleep?

Seriously, this is not just a rhetorical question! Why is it that children, mine in particular, do not like sleeping? At either end of the sleep, no less! If they're going to stay up late, can't they at least sleep in? Or if they insist on getting up early, can't they go to sleep nicely at 8 when I put them down? I am so sick of them acting cranky & tired when I do everything I can to get them to sleep earlier at night AND later in the morning!

Clearly, tonight is one of those nights when they are refusing to sleep! I am so frustrated!

We got home from going out for ice cream (somebody was supposed to be looking at our house between 6 & 6:30...pretty sure they never came...) around 7. They had a nice long bath last night and didn't do anything particularly dirty today, so we got straight into jammies. They insist on a bedtime snack regardless of how recently they've eaten, and everyone requested (and received) yogurt (in various forms - David had a frozen go-gurt, Ryan & Katy had drinkables). Then we read a story to Katy, had family prayer, and brushed their teeth. Then Katy went to bed, while the boys went back out to Daddy. He read Book of Mormon stories to them, then each boy took a turn reading a book to the other & me. Finally, I read them a story. So far, so good.

Then they went to the bedroom and opened the door. I don't know if Katy was waiting quietly or just woke up by the door opening, but she immediately stood up & started wailing. The boys said their prayers, then I sang to them & tucked them in. Katy continued to wail, but she sounded tired enough that I thought she'd give up pretty quick.

That was at 8:02. It is currently 9:23, and Ryan is the only one who is asleep. And he probably only fell asleep because he cried a lot when he fell off of the storage bin that was on top of the changing table. Sometimes I do a lot of monitoring them (usually sitting in the hall outside their room readinig a magazine), sometimes I just let them do their thing. It doesn't seem to matter - they rarely go to sleep before 9! Come ON, people!

On the other end, I'm pretty sure the boys have been getting up around 7 lately. They don't wake me up, they just go downstairs to watch TV or play on the computer. I am very greatful that they don't wake me up, but I wish they wouldn't be up either! WebMD says 3-6 year olds need 10.75-12 hrs, and they are not getting it! And I don't know how to make them! We have blinds, curtains, AND multiple blankets covering their window. We keep their door as closed as possible without actually being closed. And sometimes lately we've even opened some doors in the hallway to try and block light from coming down the hall. It doesn't work!

As I'm explaining that it occurs to me that maybe if I were to get up early & not allow them to do those fun things, maybe they wouldn't be so quick to hop out of bed. But probably not, and then we have a grumpy mommy on top of things. Maybe I'll try it though...