Once again her kids are acting like this because they enable this behaviour, i know their still young but at this age just sit on the end of the bed for 5 mins and leave kids can be really good at milking situations, these kids certainly know how to get what they want,
if i stat on the end of my kids bed without giving them some kind of time limit I'd be there all bloody night, I read story lights off, if my middle child asks me to stay i say ok 5 mins.. surely they can't be that bloody scared..
8.30 isn't all that late for school holidays.