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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to refuse a Year 9 staying up for the 1am match?

710 replies

BlackTulipss · 05/07/2026 07:58

Is this unreasonable?
Apparently "every other mum" is letting their school year 9 kid watch the 1am match tonight and phone in sick to school tomorrow morning then go in at lunch.
I've said no to staying up to watch it. Starts at 1am, it will go on till 3:30am, or later if extra time!
DS has to get up at 6:30 for school.
DH says let him, keeps going on about once every 4 years experience, it's only 1 night, etc. And he says it will be the final England match - they'll be knocked out by Mexico tonight so there will be no other England games to watch after tonight.
DS badly needs his sleep and at 14 he still needs a solid 11 hours to function.
Is anyone else letting their DC watch it live tonight?
AIBU?

OP posts:
basoon · 05/07/2026 08:54

Honest to God, how can one night hurt?

plsbekinddelicate · 05/07/2026 08:54

Mine is staying up to watch and has been told in no uncertain terms he will be going to school at the normal time

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 05/07/2026 08:53

Yes, If let him watch it but he'd have to go to school as normal. Perhaps go to bed at 9 then get up for the match, back to bed after

FusionChefGeoff · 05/07/2026 08:53

youalright · 05/07/2026 08:00

Go to bed early wake up for the match then back to bed for a few hours then off to school

Yup this is our plan - everyone in bed for 8.30, up at 12.45 then hopefully another couple of hours after the match.

Visiblyabove25 · 05/07/2026 08:53

I think as a one off, in the last week of term you should absolutely let him stay up.

If you’re into football, you always remember the World Cups from your teens - this will be a core memory for their generation, and if this is the year we win they’ll literally never stop talking about the 2026 World Cup! Don’t rob him of that memory.

One night of disturbed sleep won’t hurt.

Bluffinwithmymuffin · 05/07/2026 08:53

Why are pps saying it’s a one-off? If we do win, however unlikely that may be, there’ll be another match. And many other World Cups.

I’d probably have let mine watch around the Y9 mark, they played a lot of sport and were used to unsociable hours for fixtures up and down the country, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable for parents to say no, not this time, for one football match. As for it being an official day off… please.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 05/07/2026 08:53

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 05/07/2026 08:41

A bank holiday at less than a weeks notice would have been a nightmare- people have work planned/ meetings / appointments etc. Rejiggljng it at short notice would have been very difficult. Tourist attractions likely wouldn’t have enough staff and supplies for a bank holiday.
what if you had a much waited for doctors appointment, would you be happy to have that moved

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I agree. It's costly as well to shut things down. It is not the end of the world to go in tired, fgs.
Just go to bed after dinner and set your alarm for 3am. 🤷‍♀️

mtobrokeme · 05/07/2026 08:52

My year 9 will be watching it! No one will die, a day of tiredness will cause absolutely no harm whatsoever. He’s 14 - he will survive and if he has a crap, none-productive day at school - so what?

DavidStopActingLikeADisgruntledPelican · 05/07/2026 08:52

None of mine give a rats arse about footy and we’re in Wales anyway but if they did this is not a hill I would choose to die on if I was you.

MesaVerde · 05/07/2026 08:52

Yodellayhehoo · 05/07/2026 08:22

Waitttttt

Its not a final england match????

It is extremely likely to be the last game that England play in the 2026 World Cup, yes.

mumumental · 05/07/2026 08:52

It’s crazy. Let him go to bed. And anyway England will probably lose as the high altitude is against them.

Freaksandgeeks · 05/07/2026 08:52

If his dad is staying up anyway, I’d allow it, as long as he knows he has to go to school as normal. It’ll be a great memory for him, and something to share with his friends.

Ineffable23 · 05/07/2026 08:52

Mumtobabyhavoc · 05/07/2026 08:47

The age group needs 8-10. Eleven isn't unusual, especially if very active.

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I don't think I know or know of any 14 year olds who sleep 7:30pm to 6:30am as would be required given his getting up time?

Lots of activities for 14 year olds (e.g. explorer scouts) wouldn't even start til 7pm. I'm pretty sure our cub group for 8-10 year olds used to run til 8pm and scouts (10-14) til 9.

youalright · 05/07/2026 08:52

This

AIBU to refuse a Year 9 staying up for the 1am match?
Sarah2891 · 05/07/2026 08:51

pragmatismuniversalsentimentalist · 05/07/2026 08:49

I actually cannot understand the hype over the fucking football its just a bloody game?!!

My kids will not be staying up to watch it, there really are waaaaaay more important things in life than a football match, jeez.

Its not even the final or semi final for pity's sake!

This. It's crazy.

millymollymoomoo · 05/07/2026 08:51

Hid he’s 14 ! He can choose to stay up and knackered for ONE day.

you sound like a controlling killjoy

LlynTegid · 05/07/2026 08:50

The 'every other mum' is probably a lie, that all the other children in his class are using.

In any case, England will lose, so why subject him to misery.

pragmatismuniversalsentimentalist · 05/07/2026 08:49

I actually cannot understand the hype over the fucking football its just a bloody game?!!

My kids will not be staying up to watch it, there really are waaaaaay more important things in life than a football match, jeez.

Its not even the final or semi final for pity's sake!

godmum56 · 05/07/2026 08:49

Morepositivemum · 05/07/2026 08:16

Is it not being moved to tonight instead because of the weather?

it changed back I think

Overthebow · 05/07/2026 08:49

I’d let him stay up for this one night.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 05/07/2026 08:47

Goldenbear · 05/07/2026 08:41

He's 14 and needs 11 hoursof sleep!!?

The age group needs 8-10. Eleven isn't unusual, especially if very active.

Tabarnak · 05/07/2026 08:45

So he goes to school on time on less sleep.

What’s the worst that can happen?

People book holidays that require interrupted sleep to travel, mine went on a school trip to the WW2 landmarks and left at 4am, did many scouts adventures including (not) sleeping in shelters they built,

He’ll be tired, come home, get early night and back to normal.

You will smother him into helplessness.

MyDeftDuck · 05/07/2026 08:44

Agree he can stay up providing he has a sleep/rest in the afternoon with no screens or distractions…….don't mean that as a punishment but it will help him relax and he might get some sleep.
Make sure everything is ready for school before kick-off and send him to school at the usual time.

bodgejob4 · 05/07/2026 08:43

I’m really over it now. My teen wants to stay up or wake up for it which is fine, I’m not going to stop him and it’s his own problem if he’s tired tomorrow. But I can guarantee he’ll get up, loudly go for a wee, probably get a drink, slam a few doors and I will be woken up too. My work haven’t offered a later start tomorrow but even if they did I wouldn’t be able to lie in because my pre schooler needs taking in for 8:30. I need my sleep and I know tomorrow will be awful.

It’s just such a pain. But saying all this if he wants to he can because it’s a one off and I don’t want to control him like that.