DEAR ABBY: My 8-year-old nephew, "Ralphie," gets up at 6:00 every morning. I have two children, a 4-year-old girl and a 15-month-old boy. We are not early risers.
When Ralphie sleeps over, it's usually because his parents are working and there's no school the next day, and they need someone to watch him. When he gets up, he usually wakes up my daughter, and they play loudly in her room.
How should I handle this? I don't want to be a mean aunt, and I don't want to refuse my sister and brother-in-law when they need a favor. -- SLEEPLESS IN NEW JERSEY
DEAR SLEEPLESS: At 8 years old, your nephew is old enough to understand that you need quiet in your house until a certain hour. Explain that your family is on a different schedule. Put out cereal for him to eat if he is hungry when he awakens in the morning, and be sure he brings a book or a game he can amuse himself with until the day starts with your family. Make it clear that you do not want your daughter disturbed, nor do you want to be awakened before a designated hour -- unless there is an emergency. As long as he is not hungry or bored, I'm sure your nephew will cooperate.