Its been a few months since my last entry, but not for lack of something to write about.  Helping kids grow up can be as easy as getting out of their way and as hard as, well, as moving a mountain.  Lately I have been struggling with having to supervise or remind my teen and pre-teen to brush their teeth and go to bed at a decent hour.  If I act like a strict authoritarian mom I can supervise and threaten loss of privileges if they do not comply but that technique rarely leaves them in a good mood and leaves me longing for a better way.  I have tried the laissez-faire approach as well, letting them stay up as long as they like but waking them at the normal time in the morning, hoping their groggy state will be enough impetus to go to bed earlier next time.  It hardly ever works out like I hoped.  Most nights they get to bed at a decent hour and wake-up as expected. I myself stay up later than I should or want to, but as an adult I do what all normal adults do in this situation...go to Starbucks.  Only time will tell if my boys will figure out what is best for them and do it on their own accord, because I'm tired and do not have the energy to make them do it...at least not for the rest of the summer;)