To keep my three nephews up all night?

[Upfiner]

I am having my three nephews over for a sleepover. They’re six, just turned two and five months. The eldest has slept over a few times but not the younger two.

Instead of wrestling them into bed I am planning to let them stay up as late as they like. I’ve always done this with the eldest and he loves it and usually falls asleep at about 10:30pm. I’ll obvious have the baby in his crib but I’ve got a huge corner sofa so I’m going to bring the duvets down and we can just have a slumber party downstairs.

I told my friend who has two sons and she thinks that this will impact their whole week and their schooling and routine and probably exam results and future careers.

I’m not going mad am I? This is fine for one fun evening?

How old are you out of interest? Do you want children?

I personally wouldn't like my 2 year old fed with lots of chocolate. Even as a treat night I'd still want them to have a balanced meal. Sorry if that sounds boring but at that age my 2 wouldn't have liked takeaway pizza anyway

If they were 8 10 and 12… great fun

These ages… poor loves will just be highly strung, over tired and out of sorts

My dc were looked after by lovely friends and family as needed when younger. They didn't feed them non stop crap and they tucked them up in bed on a night, dc all had a great time. Hope that helps.

I don’t want children and I’m in my late 30s. Neither of which are relevant to this thread.

Exactly. Age appropriate activities op, Google it for some guidance. 5months, 2 and 6? Nope.

My two year old nephew loves pizza and chocolate.

The six year old never has been.

👍

Never has been what? Over tired?

I'm trying to help you. Older kids yes, 5mths 2 and 6, no.
Sleeping on sofas, non stop telly and junk food suits them at a later stage.
Try bedtime stories maybe?

Highly strung, over tired and out of sorts because he’s been allowed to stay up late at a sleepover.

And you genuinely don’t see any difference between a 6 and 2 year old?

when have you dropped the 6 year old back to his parents?

Do you live alone or will someone else be around?

Yep. My respite falls within a six hour window each school day. And when they sleep I want to do zilch! Relax and zone out watching TV/reading - escapism... Socialising with friends at that time of the day isn't conducive to a restful night for me and DH (as youngest still up at 6am every single morning). Horses for courses as they say. We all have different circumstances. And as I have 4DC not many relatives have ever volunteered over the years to take all of them at once! I don't blame them as I wouldn't in their shoes!

If anyone wants to have my 3 boys all night, they can keep them up and feed them whatever. I really dont care
Does kids absolutely no harm to be a bit tired occasionally but does them a lot of good to have a fun evening with an adoring auntie. I really dont know why people get so wound up about stuff like this.

I agree. My 19yo, 16yo and 11yo can all cope with late nights. Not my 9yo. Nope.

We never had anyone to take our two kids so our first night away was when they were 9 and 7!
I would have jumped at the chance of a night out when they were younger than that, even if it did include chocolate and Toy Story.

People on this thread are genuinely shocking and it really does make it clear why so many kids grow up with such rigidity and lack of flexibility.

I also wonder what kind of lives people lead that they think social services would be interested in this.
My heart breaks for the kids that have lives that social services are interested in, it's not these boys.

Would I want this weekly? Probably not. Would I want this every now and then - you betcha!
Have a great time with your nephews, OP. Fun aunty, despite what many on this thread think, is great person to be. They are lucky to have you.

I’m reading this at the airport with my eldest (I’m off to Washington DC for work and she’s tagging along to meet up with friends). She is telling me how she still remembers sleepovers with their aunt (their fathers younger sister) and how they would stay up all night watching Bollywood films drinking coke and eating Indian sweets. Then have mango lassi and masala omelette for breakfast with extra chilli before coming home. That was over 20 years ago and they still have a lovely relationship with that aunt and their much young cousins (we may have had the cousins overnight doing the same many times).

i think this thread is proof of how disjointed families are. no family connections at all and parents are rigid with routines so they can grab some free times in the evening. However, in normal loving families, its the best childhood memories hanging out with family,cousins, late nights eating sweets, watching films etc.

You asked an opinion! It might be fun but it puts them out of routine and they’ll be ratty for their parents!

He hasn’t always been six. I live alone.

Your 19 year old can cope with late nights?

When you have done this with him before… what tike have you dropped him back the next day?