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:
Toomanyclothesinthecloset · 05/07/2026 21:18

Let him watch it, life is for fun!..he won't forget it if you don't...I think you are being a bit mean tbh

BurntBroccoli · 05/07/2026 21:17

Nowisthetimeforicecream · 05/07/2026 20:59

No one remembers what happened in the round of 16 after a few weeks. Don't be so dramatic.

Show quote history

It’s not the football he’ll remember but the fact that his parents refused to allow him.

SomersetBrie · 05/07/2026 21:11

chaosmaker · 05/07/2026 20:53

I don't understand stupid idiots letting their kids stay up to watch football. it is only football.

Stupid idiots are hard to deal with generally.

Thankfully most of the people on this thread who are allowing kids to stay up sound very sensible.

ScrollingLeaves · 05/07/2026 21:07

MyGlassMenagerie · 05/07/2026 08:04

He’s 14, not 4. One night of disrupted sleep isn’t going to kill him.

No but it will set the following days off -course, so it depends if anything important should be happening on those days.

NameChanger206 · 05/07/2026 21:02

I’ve agreed to wake my 10 and 8 year olds up at 1am to watch it….they are welcome to watch it if they can stay awake. YABVU with a 14 year old.

Nowisthetimeforicecream · 05/07/2026 20:59

BurntBroccoli · 05/07/2026 20:54

I think not!

He will remember this. He’s 14.

Show quote history

No one remembers what happened in the round of 16 after a few weeks. Don't be so dramatic.

kaylot · 05/07/2026 20:59

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?

Stick it on at 5 or 6am and watch early morning. Late for school will be common tomorrow anyway

bittertwisted · 05/07/2026 20:55

chaosmaker · 05/07/2026 20:53

I don't understand stupid idiots letting their kids stay up to watch football. it is only football.

And it is one night

BurntBroccoli · 05/07/2026 20:54

Missingpop · 05/07/2026 20:40

Not at all I honestly think your one of the very few sensible parents; education is far more important they might see it now but if e gland lose & play like muppets they’ll be saying I’m glad I didn’t watch it &!you’ll be the hero of the moment x

I think not!

He will remember this. He’s 14.

chaosmaker · 05/07/2026 20:53

I don't understand stupid idiots letting their kids stay up to watch football. it is only football.

Cariadm · 05/07/2026 20:52

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?

I think you must really know the answer to this question to have asked it in the first place?! 🙄
There are several reasons why this is a no brainer that comes firmly down on the side of your son definitely being allowed to watch the match probably like most, if not all of, his peers! most of those reasons have been mentioned by other posters so I won't labour the point and will just say FFS loosen up and get things into perspective!! 😱

BurntBroccoli · 05/07/2026 20:51

MerryUmberHedgehog · 05/07/2026 20:48

I think if you dont he will always remember that so let him. He would never forgive you.

Especially at 14 years old! He’ll be an adult in a few years.

Do you usually send him to bed at 7.30pm OP?

MerryUmberHedgehog · 05/07/2026 20:48

I think if you dont he will always remember that so let him. He would never forgive you.

Netcurtainnelly · 05/07/2026 20:46

On BBC2 at 7.10 in the morning.

Frenzi · 05/07/2026 20:40

Why did you ask the question when you obviously arent interested in other peoples opinions?

He is 14. He knows what time he has to be at school the next day. If he wants to watch the match let him (I am not a football fan and really dont see the point of staying up late to watch something you can get the result of when you wake up).

He has to be at school for x time the following day. Make him stick to that. He can finish school, come home and go to bed. One day of being knackered wont kill him and him choosing what he is doing will make him realise he needs his sleep (or doesnt)

Missingpop · 05/07/2026 20:40

Not at all I honestly think your one of the very few sensible parents; education is far more important they might see it now but if e gland lose & play like muppets they’ll be saying I’m glad I didn’t watch it &!you’ll be the hero of the moment x

drippingyethappy · 05/07/2026 20:35

UniquePinkSwan · 05/07/2026 08:01

Let him. It’s once every 4 years ffs

This. My year 8 is beside me asleep and will get up for the match, watch England get trashed and go to sleep before getting up for school. Are you often very controlling OP?

Jc2001 · 05/07/2026 20:34

Mydogisagentleman · 05/07/2026 08:03

Get up earlier and watch it on catch up
Early night tomorrow

By which time everyone will know the result.

scrivette · 05/07/2026 20:32

My 10 year old went to bed early and I will wake him up to watch it with me. He will just have to be tired and go to bed early the next day.

Nowisthetimeforicecream · 05/07/2026 20:30

stonegirl · 05/07/2026 20:15

Since the match time has changed this is all a moot point. But I will say my grandson has mock exams tomorrow and for the next couple of days (due to them being put off due to the hot weather) so in this case school is more important than football - its not the final !! only the last 16 for goodness sake

Er they Kier Starmered it. U turn back to 1am.

Nowisthetimeforicecream · 05/07/2026 20:28

PistachioTiramisu · 05/07/2026 19:50

Bloody football - can't wait until the whole thing is over - when is it - another month? Kids go to school when they should - no exception.

Most will loss interest after England go out tonight.

NerrSnerr · 05/07/2026 20:27

Heronwatcher · 05/07/2026 09:09

Yeesh! My son is aged 9, not year 9 and I’m letting him watch it! What exactly do you think will happen?

I am having a pretty active day and plan to send my son for an early night, so I’m hoping he gets at least 4/5 hours before the match and then a couple of hours after (possibly once he’s stopped sobbing because they’ve been knocked out!). And he will be at school on time and have an early night on Monday.

My 9 year old is exactly the same. He’s currently trying to sleep now (he’s a night owl so usually falls asleep about 10pm). We’re going to watch it in bed together. My 11 year old also wants to be woken up but I suspect at 1am she may choose to stay in bed.

Pinkpanther111 · 05/07/2026 20:26

Yes end of term. So everything is winding down.
Maybe I am wrong to do this but I would let him have day off on Monday.

bittertwisted · 05/07/2026 20:20

stonegirl · 05/07/2026 20:15

Since the match time has changed this is all a moot point. But I will say my grandson has mock exams tomorrow and for the next couple of days (due to them being put off due to the hot weather) so in this case school is more important than football - its not the final !! only the last 16 for goodness sake

It hasn’t

tinyspiny · 05/07/2026 20:20

stonegirl · 05/07/2026 20:15

Since the match time has changed this is all a moot point. But I will say my grandson has mock exams tomorrow and for the next couple of days (due to them being put off due to the hot weather) so in this case school is more important than football - its not the final !! only the last 16 for goodness sake

The match time hasn’t been changed , it was at 1am , it’s still at 1 am .