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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU for not letting my ill 13-year-old go to the park?

15 replies

LovingBlueDog · 17/09/2026 19:58

My DS is 13 and has been off school all week due to being really poorly.
His mate came over to see him and stayed for tea and they asked if they could go to the park.
I said no as (A) he’s still not well (B) it’s dark (C) it’s nearly 8pm and (D) it’s a school night.

Hr slammed his bedroom door and said I’m unfair.

AIBU

OP posts:
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BlueMum16 · 18/09/2026 18:29

LovingBlueDog · 18/09/2026 15:08

I didn’t invite him. He was hanging around and I told him more than once he’d have to go home but ended up staying for tea saying he hadn’t eaten all day and I felt bad

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Hanging around outside so tell him DC is too ill and to go home. He should not have been inside.

Too ill for school, too ill for friends around.

Raptors · 18/09/2026 16:41

LovingBlueDog · 18/09/2026 15:08

I didn’t invite him. He was hanging around and I told him more than once he’d have to go home but ended up staying for tea saying he hadn’t eaten all day and I felt bad

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I don't understand why you didn't enforce him going home and instead despite him ignoring your repeated requests you invited him in and fed him? Plus you allowed your supposedly super ill child to socialise? No wonder they thought you'd cave and let them go to the park.

Anothercake · 18/09/2026 16:35

JeanSimmons · 18/09/2026 15:22

Huh? It's fine for him to have his friend round, although I would have also said no to the park.

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What are you not understanding? If he's too ill to go to school he's too ill to have friends over for tea. If he's fine for friends he should've been at school.

MissMoneyFairy · 18/09/2026 15:28

What's wrong with him

JeanSimmons · 18/09/2026 15:22

Anothercake · 17/09/2026 20:01

Too ill for school, too ill to have friends round and go to the park. You shouldn't have let him in in the first place.

Huh? It's fine for him to have his friend round, although I would have also said no to the park.

mybiggreenfrog · 18/09/2026 15:20

My mother used to make us stay in bed if we were too ill for school. We were rarely off school or work. Certainly no mates around for tea. What happened here was "gave an inch and wanted a mile"

ilovesooty · 18/09/2026 15:18

LovingBlueDog · 18/09/2026 15:08

I didn’t invite him. He was hanging around and I told him more than once he’d have to go home but ended up staying for tea saying he hadn’t eaten all day and I felt bad

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So you should have insisted he went home. It's not your job to feed him. If your son is too ill to go to school he shouldn't be well enough to have friends round or go to the park.

Original poster
LovingBlueDog · 18/09/2026 15:08

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/09/2026 21:00

I wouldn’t have invited the mate in for tea - primarily in case he caught the bug!

But no, if they’re ill they’re ill, and need to rest until they’re well enough for school.

I didn’t invite him. He was hanging around and I told him more than once he’d have to go home but ended up staying for tea saying he hadn’t eaten all day and I felt bad

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/09/2026 21:00

I wouldn’t have invited the mate in for tea - primarily in case he caught the bug!

But no, if they’re ill they’re ill, and need to rest until they’re well enough for school.

Raptors · 17/09/2026 20:59

I don't understand why you even let his friend stay for tea to be honest. He clearly can't be that unwell.

MassiveOvaryaction · 17/09/2026 20:57

A mother's place is in the wrong!

Unless dc is chronically ill though or friend coming over was a favour for your friend I wouldn't have agreed to having a friend over when dc is off sick.

somanychristmaslights · 17/09/2026 20:33

He’s either ill or he’s not. Why on earth did you let his friend round if he’s ill?

user1471538275 · 17/09/2026 20:24

Back to school tomorrow then

Bluebeast · 17/09/2026 20:01

YABU for even letting the mate in for tea.

Anothercake · 17/09/2026 20:01

Too ill for school, too ill to have friends round and go to the park. You shouldn't have let him in in the first place.