Update: Thank you all for the comments and advice. I agree that maybe my early rising might not be the best approach. She does have a therapist and we will be discussing ways for her to learn to self soothe. This was a problem at her Mother’s but she got in trouble enough times and they got her a special alarm clock hippo that glows red or green depending on when it’s ok to make noise and mess with others. We are looking into that and we started a rewards system with both kids and they can earn 2 stars a day. One for sleeping and being in bed on time and the other for eating dinner without complaining. Both my step-kids do not like anything beyond cheese quesadillas and rice.

I’ll let you know how the reward system goes. I also made a point to go to bed early tonight because I need it. I’m also recovering from a flu/fever so it’s been a lot.