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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:
OrangeQuinceCookie · 05/07/2026 08:21

Im letting ds stay up, it’s the last couple of weeks of school anyway they aren’t doing much learning (also year 9).

Yodellayhehoo · 05/07/2026 08:20

He can go to bed at 6pm,wake up at 12.45am go back to sleep 3.45am. Wake up at 7am for school. Dont phone the school that hes sick. Loads of people are doing that and it will be embarrassing and obvious.

Bakerposs · 05/07/2026 08:19

I’ve got a year 9. I’d let him if he wanted to but he’s not that interested. I’d probably get him to set an alarm rather than staying up the whole night.
but he’d definitely be going to school at the normal time. He won’t be the only one who’s knackered (poor teachers!) but it’s only one day and he can have an early night Monday

Motheranddaughter · 05/07/2026 08:19

YABU
He should have an early night and set alarm get up to watch the match
Then back to bed
Hopefully no extra time/penalties

Whaleandsnail6 · 05/07/2026 08:18

Yabu.

Year 9 is 13/14 right? I think thats old enough to weigh up the consequences of being tired the next day

My kids are 16 and 14. Both staying up for the match, as are me and dh. I'll be waking the 14 year old up at 7am and expecting them to be on time for school, just as I will be for work.

Its very much a one off...let them enjoy it!

MickyMoonshine · 05/07/2026 08:17

Year 9? Yeah I’d let them stay up.

Pretty sure my 11 year old will be watching it. It’s a one off, no big deal if he’s tired for one day.

lightreflectingonwater · 05/07/2026 08:17

Let them watch it. Make it very clear they will be going to school even if they don't sleep a wink all night. It won't do them any harm in the long run and it's a good life lesson

WhatNextImScared · 05/07/2026 08:16

Passaggressfedup · 05/07/2026 08:07

This is the perfect opportunity for teenagers to learn to adapt. Do something you really really want to, but that doesn't give the right to ignore your duties. That means you still go to school tired and sleepy and make extra effort to keep up.

Agreed!

youalright · 05/07/2026 08:16

Morepositivemum · 05/07/2026 08:16

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

No they moved it back

TokyoSushi · 05/07/2026 08:16

DS is 15, I’ve said he can watch it on the iPad in his bedroom hoping that he’ll kind of watch, kind of doze. Obvs if it’s very exciting then we’ll all watch extra time/pens together. It is once every 4 years!

Morepositivemum · 05/07/2026 08:16

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

PerfectTiming2026 · 05/07/2026 08:15

If his Dad is staying up then I’d let him

Ineffable23 · 05/07/2026 08:14

Could he go to bed early and then get up for it, and then go back to bed?

WhatNextImScared · 05/07/2026 08:14

At Y9 you should definitely let him watch - this is a core memory! Primary school is different, but one night for a mid teen isn’t going to do any harm and the excitement (or mutual commiseration) will get him through the next day

itsgettingweird · 05/07/2026 08:13

So he goes to bed for a few hours. Gets up, watches the match, sleeps a few more hours and goes to school.

Comes home and early night.

Why such a drama over it? Not just you but so many posts all over the internet.

When I was a teen (admittedly many decades ago!) we did this sort of thing often and it wasn’t such a drama - but neither would mine or my friends parents allow us to miss school etc afterwards.

We learned to live a fun life and suffer the consequences of our actions. Therefore be able to risk assess how much no sleep mattered to us compared to the thing we were kissing sleep for!

I had a great childhood ☺️

ShetlandishMum · 05/07/2026 08:13

Phone in sick? Teenager? No way.
Watch the game and go to school. Or don't watch it.

DemonsandMosquitoes · 05/07/2026 08:12

I’d let him. Good grief.

superspideysense · 05/07/2026 08:09

If he wanted to at that age then I’d let him because it’s hard to stop them! But he’d be going to school normal time. That’s life I’m afraid. We all have to get up for work.

im not staying up - no way! I need my sleep and have to get up for work

HoskinsChoice · 05/07/2026 08:09

I'd let him watch it but absolutely no way would I 'phone in sick'. He needs to learn that actions have repercussions. Teaching him that it's OK to phone in sick when he is not sick and for something so trivial (and I say that as a lifelong football fan) is awful parenting. Very early night, wake up at 1, watch the match, back to sleep, go to school, early night tomorrow too.

Passaggressfedup · 05/07/2026 08:07

This is the perfect opportunity for teenagers to learn to adapt. Do something you really really want to, but that doesn't give the right to ignore your duties. That means you still go to school tired and sleepy and make extra effort to keep up.

hitothetree · 05/07/2026 08:06

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

This Or get him to bed and see his alarm for him wake up at 5am to watch it on catch up
Mines been told he can do whatever but he’s younger than yours and there’s no way in hell he’s even going to manage to stay up or wake up to an alarm

MandemChickenShop · 05/07/2026 08:06

world cup is a massive deal for a 14 year old. bit mean to not let him watch it. but "phoning in sick" is bollox. just go to school as normal a bit tired.

I assume he's not having 10 pints whilst watching

Sirzy · 05/07/2026 08:06

If a year 9 child really wanted to watch it I would say go to bed set an alarm and get up for the game BUT make it clear they would be expected to be up and out for school at normal time.

pouletvous · 05/07/2026 08:05

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

PuppyMonkey · 05/07/2026 08:05

I don’t do football but I’m guessing if he’s that excited about the match he won’t be able to get to sleep anyway.