Teenager - getting him up!!

[Anon751117000]

I'm sure lots of you can relate. I have a 17yo boy who is now in 6th form. Unfortunately that means he is only in school for certain periods rather than all day every day. I work from home and I am getting increasing stressed and frustrated getting him to get out of his bed to get to school. I can literally go upstairs 4-5 times before he will move himself. Today I could honestly cry because of it. I have online zoom calls I have to attend so can;t be up and down the stairs. I am so sick of it now I have decided that I'm leaving him in bed to get into trouble at school as I don't see any other way I can do it. I'm literally at my wits end at this point. I'm a single mother btw.

Hi, I'm going through the same thing with my son. It's so frustrating. He missed so much school last year he only passed three GCSE's, one D and two As- I was pleasantly surprised by the last though. I just want him to have a good life, he's clever too, and he could make so much of his life. It's hard, isn't it ? They're still young yet, though.

I can understand you. But if you try to figure it out. Why does your son has to go to school? I mean, what reasons does he have to go to school?

I understand your frustration.

Could he not set his own alarm or would he sleep through that?

Could you just shout up to him from after waking him up once instead of keep going up to his bedroom?

Maybe try to wake him up before you start work? If that's too early then maybe he can get some school work done before school?

Maybe let him get in trouble at school as he might pay more attention to them than you. That sounds harsh, but I know from experience that I can moan about something and get ignored but if school say it once, my boys seem to pay attention which is very frustrating

I had this with my teen DC. They were both very rude to me one weekend and I decided I was doing too much for them. I told them I was no longer waking them and they needed to be responsible for themselves.

To be fair to both of them they have stepped up and managed it. I think they didn't bother with alarms or ignored them as they knew I was around adn would make sure they were up in time. So once I said no more then were perfectly capable of doing it themselves. I hated the thought of letting them fail, but realised I was doing them no favours by not letting them fail.

Definitely leave him to it. Better feel the effects now than at uni or first job.

Clearly today you have no choice, but going forward tell him you will wake him once, or not at all, and it's up to him to get himself out of bed and to college on time.
He needs to know the rules are changing, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with you not waking him once he knows this.

I've found one of those old- fashioned real bell style alarm clocks somewhat useful

Thank you everyone. I do think I do way too much for him already. I have warned him today that I won't be doing it anymore and if he misses school, I will call the school and explain why. I really don't think that the way 6th form is done at his school is suitable for him - he needs to be in every day, all day!
@Namechangetotalkaboutmysleepingpillsproblem funnily enough I was thinking about getting one of those!!!

Get one ! They're really good and loud. My cats freak out and run away from it lol it's so loud and abrupt

My son actually took it out his room and left it in the living room lol

Our sixth form is all day everyday and it is better as they are in more of a routine