To insist on some family time

[Musicforthemasses18]

10 year old DS kicking off this afternoon as we are going out as a family. He had his mate over for a sleepover last night, spent half of yesterday at footy training with his mates & all of this morning at footy.

His mates want him to go out to park with him this afternoon but I have said no, its family time! We are going out for a walk & an ice cream!

Aibu? He’s only 10 and I feel like I have hardly seen him all week as he’s busy with clubs.

He’s making me feel like the worse parent in the world!!

nope, you are doing the right thing. i aim for some family time at least once a week but it gets harder as they get older.

Which was organised first? If going out with his mates is spur of the moment, then fair enough - if it's been organised for a while, he should be allowed to go.

Meh. Whats the point in dragging someone out who will likely mope and huff the whole time?

Let him go to the park, he'll only spoil your afternoon.

Walk to park?

His afternoon sounds far better than yours. Going for a walk is a poor effort- cant you think of anything better than that??

Do you want him to see family time as a punishment?

He's old enough to be starting to make his own choices. Why would you force him to do something with the family?

Don't push him to do something that you think is a good idea when he has something else he fancies up his sleeve.

Mates thing was impromptu. He came with us but cheered up after an ice cream! I’ve barely seen him all week as he does so much sport so actually I am glad I insisted! He apologised for the strop too!

yay! glad it went well. perhaps you could save this time for family time every week? that way he knows not to plan anything during it