Why is it that everyone else seems to know what is and isn't okay for your child, regardless of what you, as daily parent of said child, tell them?

For example… Harry gets up every morning between 5:55 and 6:20. Regardless of what time he goes to bed, that's when he gets up. Regardless of what day of the week, that's when he gets up. Only time this may change is a) travel to a different time zone (evidenced 2 weeks ago on his maiden voyage to Grandma Patty's in Chicago), or b) due to the ever-popular adjustment for Daylight Savings.

Something Kim and I know for a fact doesn't change his wakeup time, is his bedtime. If he goes to bed at 7:30 or 10:30, he's going to wake up around 6. There's really no debate to this. However, direct effect of adjusting bedtime obviously, is quantity of sleep (you can do the math at home). Normal bedtime is around 7:30. Therefore, Harry goes to bed at 7:30, and gets up around 6.

This is a fact of life for us and not up for negotiation… from our perspective. From other's perspective, it seems perfectly legitimate to keep him up until he literally starts into a typical 2YO tirade, at which point he's typically handed back to one of us, and it's duly pointed out that "he must be getting tired." Getting??? It's 11 o'clock!?!?!

For future reference, if you don't have kids yet, or yours are beyond the age of your immediate supervision, take the parents' word for it… bedtime is bedtime for a good reason… COLLECTIVE SANITY.

Another example… Harry's very much a creature of habit (some might note that it's to a fault, but it's early - we may be able to overcome that). When we travel, whether it's to daycare in the morning, or a taxi ride to the airport, everyone has their place to be and job to do. Daycare: always go in Daddy's car, he drives, Mommy waves from the window. Very cut & dry. Gym Class: Mommy drives her car, Daddy drinks coffee in the front seat. Again, not up for negotiation. Deviate from this, and suffer the consequences. That said, a daytrip in someone else's car whilst Mommy & Daddy are at work, not a very good idea. He will be the first to let you know that it doesn't work that way. Trust us.

Another example… Being such a creature of habit, there are plenty of things that he's perfectly content with doing. Matchbox cars. Blocks. Play-doh. Dora the Explorer reruns. Thomas the Train table. Simple pleasures that will keep him happily occupied for hours. Harry's already got quite the burgeoning imagination. He's very good at solitary play, as well as playing with others. Therefore, running all over to see all kinds of things isn't really necessary. The Bear exhibit at the zoo for 45 minutes is perfectly acceptable… sure there's an entire zoo to explore, but these bears are really cool, and look there's a tunnel to crawl through (another 20 minutes down). Mind you, this is one that I'm certainly guilty of, but remember, he's 2. Less is more.

While we certainly aren't the end-all of do-good parents, though sometimes we may espouse to be, please take these and other recommendations under advisement when in Harry's company. Of course friends & relatives want to be the ones having all the fun, and bringing said fun to Harry's attention, and we're hardly wet blankets (okay… maybe I am, but Kim certainly isn't), but its all for the greater good. Our own sanity, Harry's well-being, and just as importantly, for you to be able to enjoy your time with him, while minimizing the 2YO tirades.