Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
JudgeJ · 06/07/2026 09:21

themiddleofourstreet · 06/07/2026 07:30

This is lovely. He’ll remember it for life!

Show quote history

As will the children of the pearl clutchers, hope they take a long time to forgive their mothers who wouldn't let them get/stay up. I have found it amazing at people thinking that children can't cope with an early morning match. I've just watched on the BBCi player, fast forwarding much of it except for the goals and the last 15 minutes, my heart was thudding in the last 3 minutes and I knew the result! I almost wish I was still teaching to enjoy it with my classes, it can be amazing the morning after a big win/

CG90 · 06/07/2026 07:58

Goldenbear · 05/07/2026 23:18

Do you actually like football though?

Best team won!

Show quote history

Yeah I do, and I think it was a terrible game. Happy Norway won… but a bit baffled by your question 😂

IlldoItNowInAMinute · 06/07/2026 07:33

Please tell us if you let him watch it. Hoping you did and you have a tired happy lad on your hands.

Pinkchickenwine · 06/07/2026 07:33

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 06/07/2026 07:28

My 11 year old went to bed at 8. His dad got him up to watch it. Made hot dogs and had m&Ms and nachos. Caffeine free coke and his dad had non alcoholic beer.

No way I was getting up for it, but I’m glad they made a mini event of it. I can hear his footsteps now so this morning isn’t going to be a problem.

Hope you let him watch it - sounds like it was a cracking match

Brilliant! He won’t be tired today, the adrenaline will carry him through!

themiddleofourstreet · 06/07/2026 07:30

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 06/07/2026 07:28

My 11 year old went to bed at 8. His dad got him up to watch it. Made hot dogs and had m&Ms and nachos. Caffeine free coke and his dad had non alcoholic beer.

No way I was getting up for it, but I’m glad they made a mini event of it. I can hear his footsteps now so this morning isn’t going to be a problem.

Hope you let him watch it - sounds like it was a cracking match

This is lovely. He’ll remember it for life!

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 06/07/2026 07:28

My 11 year old went to bed at 8. His dad got him up to watch it. Made hot dogs and had m&Ms and nachos. Caffeine free coke and his dad had non alcoholic beer.

No way I was getting up for it, but I’m glad they made a mini event of it. I can hear his footsteps now so this morning isn’t going to be a problem.

Hope you let him watch it - sounds like it was a cracking match

Sartre · 06/07/2026 07:19

I didn’t. If it was the semi or final I would have but it wasn’t even a quarter. It didn’t start till 2am in the end.

KatiePricesKnickers · 06/07/2026 07:07

What a brilliant game! I hope the lad watched it live.

ItsOkItsDarkChocolate · 06/07/2026 06:47

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.

This.

IonianNerveGrip · 06/07/2026 06:37

Seems news of England's demise was greatly exaggerated!

Beenwhereyouareagain · 06/07/2026 05:08

I guess your DH and most of the fans were wrong. I just saw that England defeated Mexico!! Congratulations on this phenomenal win!!

I really hope your son got to watch the history-making match. ⚽🇬🇧🙌🙌

Familyyy · 06/07/2026 04:49

My 3 stayed up, 13 14 &16, we only ever watch it every 4 year.
What a match worth staying up for.
Mine have all gone to get power naps then try and get a half day in school, tbh i dont mind them having the whole day off, so im going to just let them lay.
Its not every week.
But they will all ways remeber we stayed up together.
And i will do it again if it comes again.
Now im off to bed.

notthatoldchestnut · 06/07/2026 04:40

Really hope he stayed up OP! My 8yo went to bed at 6:30pm so he could get up and watch it!

CaffeinatedMum · 06/07/2026 04:32

Please please please tell me you let him stay up for that!!!

Pinkchickenwine · 06/07/2026 04:27

MickyMoonshine · 06/07/2026 04:18

Please tell me you let him stay up to watch that. Utterly brilliant!

Albeit a little nerve racking!

eastegg · 06/07/2026 04:26

CheeseyNacho · 06/07/2026 04:07

Good morning.

Show quote history

🤩

Auroraloves · 06/07/2026 04:25

Hope your son enjoyed it 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

MickyMoonshine · 06/07/2026 04:18

Please tell me you let him stay up to watch that. Utterly brilliant!

therockingbird · 06/07/2026 04:16

We are having a power nap and pushing on through .. yr 9 & 10.. 😆💪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

anotherdaytosmile · 06/07/2026 04:16

Did he stay up? I do hope so

mtobrokeme · 06/07/2026 04:14

If you have a football loving kid and you made them miss that for a bit of shut eye then I pity them!

tinyspiny · 06/07/2026 04:11

Best England performance for years , totally worth staying up for .

Pinkchickenwine · 06/07/2026 04:11

CheeseyNacho · 06/07/2026 04:07

Good morning.

Show quote history

👏 👏

basiically · 06/07/2026 04:11

Worth the all nighter England done us proud.

CheeseyNacho · 06/07/2026 04:07

MesaVerde · 05/07/2026 08:52

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

Show quote history

Good morning.