It’s a school night; the house rule is that the kids don’t go out on school nights. The only exception to this rule is if there is a compulsory school function. I haven’t always been consistent with enforcing this rule in the past (big mistake) but due to a recent deterioration in school work and behaviour all round, that rule is now strictly in place and I intend to stick to my guns. So when I’m asked if I can provide a lift and money for a music concert being held tonight, my answer is a firm “no”. Then I’m told that it’s being held at a girls’ high school and tickets were being sold at schools to the kids. What?? How can the school administration allow this? We as parents are supposed to provide structure and boundaries for our kids, we get told by school that they need our support in teaching the kids to be disciplined and to ensure they do their homework, get enough sleep and remain focused. How on earth can they be such hypocrites? It’s beyond me that they can advocate a rock concert to be held on a school night at a school! When the kids turn up to class exhausted the next day, who is to blame? Perhaps some parents will let their kids go. I don’t care – their children are not my responsibility and I have additional, difficult issues to deal with when it comes to raising the boys so I’m NOT going to cave in to the “but everyone else is going” tactic.
So, I’m not very popular at the moment and tonight could be a bit tense at home. I’ll just have to suck it up, knowing that I have made the correct decision, based on the best long-term interests of my children. I have their father’s 100% backing on this – he has agreed to it, and said he will support me.