It's amazing what moving up a bedtime will do.

Monday at school Riley was sent to the assistant principal's office for hitting a boy in the back. When her teacher asked her to explain, Riley told her she was tired and didn't want to go to school. Riley apologized to the boy and promised not to do it again, and all was well.

Until Mama and Papa found out.

She didn't confess until we told her that her teacher had already talked to us about it. Then she said she didn't like the boy. We explained that it didn't matter, you don't hit people (unless they hit you first ... actually, we didn't tell her that!). She seemed to get it. Discipline was forthcoming, but not in the usual way.

Off we went to A-V therapy, where she proceeded to do really well on testing and babble, and her behavior was good. However, afterward she didn't get her usual trip to McDonald's, her favorite place. Instead, Mama and Papa got to choose the restaurant. We went to Tenders, which she decided was her new "favorite place."

She was also disappointed in our trip to Target because she didn't get anything "fun." We picked up a few groceries, but no coloring book or powdered donuts or Lunchables. And she knew the reason.

Finally, we got home and decorated the Christmas tree, which is another post altogether. After eating some supper, we told Riley that she would now be going to bed earlier since she was so tired that she hit someone at school. She was a bit upset but didn't complain too much and fell asleep within 5 minutes of her head hitting her Ariel pillow.

The last two nights have been just as easy. Apparently, she wasn't getting enough sleep. And even though she thinks it's too early to go to bed, she has no trouble falling asleep. And fast.

And she has been a much more cooperative child.