My boys are tucked up in bed and have been since about 7pm! I came to bed 10 mins ago and could hear kids shouting and playing, so had a nosy out the window and there is still kids at the park! It is about 5 doors away from us, so not far!

Basically what I am saying is am I too strict by saying my boys have to be in at 7pm even though it's still school hold here and it's still light out??

Sorry for rambling!!

Xx

No you are responsible parent doing your best for your kids

Those kids who are still out playing when they should at least be indoors winding down probably don't get enough sleep so do not get the most out of their day because they are permanently tired

I dont think you are strict at all - some parents just dont care that their kids dont get enough sleep and are out playing at night!

Good on yu for sticking to what you believe is right!

No I don't think you are too strict hun. I was your kids once - in the fact that me and my bro were in bed when our 'mates' were still hanging round the front street hours after we had to be in. Me and my bro have grown up to be well mannered, respectful adults whereas those 'kids' whoes parents didnt care have turned into deadbeat doleys who live there lives in the pub spending tax payers money beer and fags whilst their own kids run round the streets after hours - and so the cycle goes on

Carry on with what you are doing hun - you are a great mum and your kids will grow up to be a credit to you

xx

It's hard as Jake is nearly ten going on 13!! And gets proper stroppy about it sometimes! I get all the usual about being a horrid mum etc! But it's definatly good to know that you lovely ladies agree!

Jake has been ok about this week as he is on a football course so is worn out at the end of the day!

Xx

Kinkyangel wrote:

It's hard as Jake is nearly ten going on 13!! And gets proper stroppy about it sometimes! I get all the usual about being a horrid mum etc! But it's definatly good to know that you lovely ladies agree!

Jake has been ok about this week as he is on a football course so is worn out at the end of the day!

Xx

I have to say at almost ten i definitely think 7pm i far too early for him to be going to bed. As they get that bit older i think they need to be given a little more responsibility and staying up a bit later is part of that.

As for children who stay up later growing up to be dead beat, what a load of tosh!! My kids are up later and i am certainly not irresponsible and my kids are very well mannered. I very easy for people to judge other people because they do things differently

on school nights i like leo in bed at 7:30(at this age, think when he's nearly 10 it may be later) but in the holidays i do let him stay awake a bit later. he does have to be inside no later than 7, but he can then read or play quitley in his room for a bit or watch a film with me or his dad(or football ) until no later than 8:30, for two reasons, one because he will be tird the next day if any later and two, i wanna watch my tv which isnt suitable sometimes
i agree with mara that a later bedtime is giving them a little more responsibiliy that they need as part of growing up.
it is personal choice, but personally i think oncee my kids are around that age they will be allowed to stay up later, as i was at that age xx

Jake has to be in at 7! If the boys want to watch a DVD then they have to go to bed at 7 on school nights! If not they do stay up a little later!

It was more the being in at 7 I was thinking about! Although this week Jake has been in bed earlier as he is cream crackered from doing a football course, and if he tired it turns him into an evil little sod that tells me I am a horrid mum! As he has done today!!! He is in bed now!! As punishment for being the devil child!!

Xx

Dont you love being the evil mum mine always tell me i am mean

Lol! Yes love it! They soon realise they could have it worse!!

Xx

i think you will get the 'evil mum' card played whatever rules you set tbh they will realise when they get older that its for their own good xx

mara wrote:

As for children who stay up later growing up to be dead beat, what a load of tosh!! My kids are up later and i am certainly not irresponsible and my kids are very well mannered. I very easy for people to judge other people because they do things differently

With all due respect Mara, at no point did I say that children that stay up late turn into deadbeats. If you read my response I said that those kids whose parents didnt care have grown up that way. Their parents were too busy in the pub whilst their young kids hung around streets untill near on midnight on school nights whilst my "mean" parents wanted me safe in the house doing my homework . I was merely implying that because Clare wants her children to be off the streets and safe after 7pm doesn't make her a mean/bad mum - quite the opposite, in my opinion it shows she cares. Nobody is judging anybody, that was MY observation of the kids I grew up with.

xx

my kids are 3 and a half, 2, and 4 months, and no matter what day of the week it is they are always in bed at 7pm, their cue is cbeebis bedtime story! so unless we are on holiday or been on a big day out then then from 7pm is OUR time. so if your too strict then so am i
x