He fails to follow the schedule
You say: "Have a great time! I'll be home by five o'clock. Remember, we're supposed to go to your mom's for dinner."
You mean: Lunch is at noon, naptime's at 2 P.M., and snack follows nap ... just like always.
What happens: You walk in the door at 5 P.M. to find a houseful of starving, exhausted, hyperactive kids who are bound to misbehave at Grandma's.
How to deal: While you may have perfected a [OPENWINDOW {http://parenting.aol.com/parenting/onlyonaol/article/0,19840,1133098,00.html} {certain routine}], don't assume he'll know exactly when you think it's prudent to settle down with a story or break out a snack. It's best to be very specific when explaining your routine. If he chafes at your instructions, bite your tongue and see what happens. After a [OPENWINDOW {http://parenting.aol.com/parenting/onlyonaol/article/0,19840,1102679,00.html} {hellish evening with whiny kids}], he may very well follow your plan next time. Or his plan may actually work! Sometimes it's better to relax and roll with your mate's approach.

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