To not allow DS to take a day off because he didn't sleep?

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Genuinely wondering if I was unfair here. DS survived and has just gone to bed.

DS was up late last night, gaming! He's 16 and my youngest. I don't turn off the internet, etc. as I need it on at night. He knows the rules, if he's tired, tough, he'll learn to go to bed sooner.

He ended up not going to sleep until 6am. He had to be up at 6:45am... he got up and said Mum I'm not going to college. I said you absolutely are and he protested a bit but then reluctantly agreed. It was unfortunate he then had work this evening (McDonald's) but got through that also.

My friend said "bloody hell your heart must be made of stone, you made him do both?"

Was I really being a big fat meanie?

My 16 year old is left alone to manage his own sleeping patterns on the understanding that he will go to school and if he moans about being tired he will be sent to bed at 8pm the following night - with gadgets removed.

Good for you !

Quite surprised he asked for permission.

I don’t know, OP. On balance the right thing, but there’s the thing. He’s adult enough to choose to spend all night gaming but enough of a little boy to be told he ‘has’ to go to college then work.

Do you see what I mean?

You did the right thing, he needs to learn his lesson.

A new guy has just started working with my BIL - he was telling us that in the first month this new guy has been late most days, and has already had three days off because he was too tired/hung over to come in and has been open about this to their boss. He honestly didn't see anything wrong with sleeping in until work called him, then saying "oh I went out with friends after work and only got a few hours of sleep last night so I'll be in at lunchtime". I'm genuinely boggling at a) why he is still employed and b) that he thought this was a reasonable excuse!!

Well he won't do that again

Credit to your son for sucking it up and going in,a lot wouldnt have. And lets face it, at 16 we can't force them to do anything. You've obviously gone right somewhere.