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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:
FirstdatesFred · 05/07/2026 08:32

and definitely break time at the latest if he doesn’t get up in time

Blackcatahotcat · 05/07/2026 08:32

Lexibletheflexible · 05/07/2026 08:03

I honestly don't understand any parent who would try and be a barrier here. It just feels mean and controlling. "I could take this away because you are a child so I will.".

Exactly. Let the kid watch the game. It’s not every night is it. Jeez.

redboxerclub · 05/07/2026 08:31

Of course he needs to watch it! Don’t be so mean!!

everybody is going to be tired on Monday and school will be much lighter as so many people will be skiving!!

bed at 10 up at 2.55 back to bed at 4am

FirstdatesFred · 05/07/2026 08:31

I would let him, but say he needs to get to for school. He’ll be fine!

Arlanymor · 05/07/2026 08:30

I will preface this by saying I really dislike football, I find it bloody boring (rugby all the way here - much more strategic and interesting) but why would you be so churlish about 90 minutes? Go to bed early and then get up for the game. I hope you're not planning on watching it and depriving him? Horrible.

Ilovemyshed · 05/07/2026 08:30

Bed at 8/9pm, sleep for a few hours, wake, watch, back to bed once its over and up normal time.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 05/07/2026 08:29

Mermaidsarereal · 05/07/2026 08:27

My year 9 DD is also banging on about staying up and all of her friends are watching it and staying off the next day but I know my daughter can barely keep her eyes open by 10pm so there’s no way she will actually stay up. I’ve also said no too.

Why not say yes and just let her fall asleep if she can’t last

Lexibletheflexible · 05/07/2026 08:29

Mermaidsarereal · 05/07/2026 08:27

My year 9 DD is also banging on about staying up and all of her friends are watching it and staying off the next day but I know my daughter can barely keep her eyes open by 10pm so there’s no way she will actually stay up. I’ve also said no too.

Why not just let her, and if she falls asleep, she falls asleep. I don't get all this unnecessary control of teenagers. It must make them so resentful.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 05/07/2026 08:28

Let him but he has to go to school on time. He can go to bed early and have a few hours of sleep before the game and then a few more hours after.

WatchingShadowsPassingBy · 05/07/2026 08:28

Let him stay up and he can still go to school at normal time. One night of not much sleep will be fine at that age.

Motheranddaughter · 05/07/2026 08:28

Also if your DH thinks it’s ok why do you get to forbid it
Sounds a bit controlling
If DH watching it perhaps he wants to watch it with DS

Lexibletheflexible · 05/07/2026 08:28

BippityBopper · 05/07/2026 08:26

I'd do exactly this. With iPlayer/streaming, there's really no need to watch it at 1am.

Edited
Show quote history

What you mean live, as it happens?

PrincessOfPreschool · 05/07/2026 08:27

BippityBopper · 05/07/2026 08:26

I'd do exactly this. With iPlayer/streaming, there's really no need to watch it at 1am.

Edited
Show quote history

I think it defeats the object of talking about staying up at school. No need to mention you got 3 hours sleep before the match even started!!

Mermaidsarereal · 05/07/2026 08:27

My year 9 DD is also banging on about staying up and all of her friends are watching it and staying off the next day but I know my daughter can barely keep her eyes open by 10pm so there’s no way she will actually stay up. I’ve also said no too.

Auroraloves · 05/07/2026 08:26

11 hours sleep?! So ordinarily he’s in bed by 7.30 on a school night?

This will be the last England match, let him
go to bed at his usual 7.30 and let him watch the match at 1

BippityBopper · 05/07/2026 08:26

pouletvous · 05/07/2026 08:05

can he get up at 5am and watch on iplayer?

I'd do exactly this. With iPlayer/streaming, there's really no need to watch it at 1am.

PrincessOfPreschool · 05/07/2026 08:26

I would go to bed a bit earlier, get a couple of hours sleep and then see if he wants to wake up. If he does, watch match, back to bed and go in a bit late. Don't phone in sick, who's going to believe that. Just phone in: he'll be in for Period 3 or something like that.

RosalieRosa · 05/07/2026 08:25

I have said no to my primary age kids, but I wouldn't stop a Y9 from watching it. I'd say he needs to go into school though.

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 05/07/2026 08:24

my husband plans to wake my 11 year old up, watch match then sleep til 8.

He’s not doing brain surgery at school, no one will die

MyLimeGuide · 05/07/2026 08:23

If he is into football I would allow it, can he go to bed really early then wake up at 1?

SunsetDrifter · 05/07/2026 08:23

How are you going to stop him exactly if you are asleep and your husband is up watching it? Surely he'll just go downstairs and watch it with his dad anyway or watch it on his own TV? Can't exactly stop him at 14. Are you planning to stay up to stop him?

Blueseudeshoes · 05/07/2026 08:22

Let him, it’ll be a great memory it’s 1 night

MagicThanks · 05/07/2026 08:22

I’d let him watch it but he’d be going to school on time the next day.

Yodellayhehoo · 05/07/2026 08:22

Waitttttt

Its not a final england match????

Figgygal · 05/07/2026 08:21

I would rather my y9 14yo didn't watch it
But I'm not going to stop him
I'm also not joining in after we got up at 2 to watch the Scotland game because it was on a weekend and he didn't last until half time before he went back to bed
They're going to get beat anyway so no idea why he's so keen

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