My nine year-old son is a master negotiator when it comes to extending his bedtime.  He is always looking for ways to take full advantage of those last "five more minutes."  Since he was diagnosed with epilepsy last May, adhering to a strict bedtime has become even more important because studies show that sleep deprivation can be a trigger for seizures.   Here are some of my little darling's favorite excuses for not going to bed: "I need to go to the bathroom." "When are you going to bed, Mommy?" "I can't sleep without my Teddy Bear." "I'm thirsty and I need a drink of water." "Daddy is snoring too loud and keeping me awake."     It turns out that I am not alone in this struggle of daily bartering.  As a matter of fact, bedtime excuses are universal – more than 60% of parents around the globe are dealing with kids’ stall tactics before bed, adding up to nearly 20 minutes every single night.  Imagine that, not only … [Read more...]