Should I be allowed up without my parents?

Question

I am 14 years old and my parents go to bed at 10:30 sometimes 11:00 and I am NEVER tired then, and there are always things on TV I want to watch. But my parents MAKE me go to bed at the same time as them. I tried talking to them about it (like actually talking calmly and not fighting) but they still wouldn't listen to me. I think i deserve to be able to stay up later and I am responsible enough to go to bed when I am tired. I don't understand because they tell me I am responsible but then they don't think I am responsible enough to live my life how I want to. Please, do you think I should be allowed up? Am i over reacting? Or does anyone have any arguements I could say to my parents to maybe chnage their minds?

Answer 1

Sorry, I am a parent- and I side with your parents-stop rolling your eyes gal...... :)
Do you know how many kids are out there that would kill to be where you are now? In a home where your parents love you?
Yes, they care. You are young and going to school, and need your sleep. Lack of proper sleep can lead to alot of problems, health wise and nutrition wise.
They are only looking out for YOU, that is their job sweetie. I do wish that you would see if you are drinking too much caffiene at night time and that is preventing you from going to sleep at night.
Focus on school for now, so you can graduate, get a good job, and get your own place. When you do that and live by yourself and have the responsibility of a job and bills, guarantee you, you will go to bed about the time your parents do !

Answer 2

What is their reasoning?
What time do you get up in the morning?

I have always stayed up late and have always functioned on very little sleep. Some people just do better than others.

How do they know if you are up or not? Do they check in your room? Is the only TV in the living room?

If TV is a big thing for you try getting a TIVO or recording the things you want to watch.

I think 11 is a reasonable time for a day when you have school the next day. But on Friday, Saturday, and in the summer you should be able to stay up as late as you want! Even when I was really young I stayed up until 3am (habit I got from my Mom) reading and watching TV. Only in the summer and on weekends. That seems like a good compromise

Answer 3

At 14 you should be allowed to stay up and watch TV.

Maybe if you offer a test period of four weeks (then when they argue you down, you settle for one week) where you can stay up and watch TV and manage your own time. And if you are too tired and your grades are being affected, then you will stop staying up.

If they say you are responsible, then tell them this is one way you can prove you are. You need to learn to manage your time while you are in a safe environment.

Sounds like the TV schedule is running their lives. Ask them what time they would go to bed if there was no TV at your place?

If nothing else works, then as soon as you are old enough, get a job and save up and buy a small TV for your bedroom. or ask for one as a Christmas present.

Personally, as a comparison, when I was working full time AND studying full time at night, I went to bed between 11.30pm and 1am, depending on when I got tired - that was normal nights - not the nights where you stay up and study/do assignments. I still go to bed no earlier than 11.30pm. When I was your age, I'd watch TV until 10.30pm, then read in my room for another hour or so. Or stay up and watch TV until 11.30 when nothing was on.

If I was tired at 9.30, I'd go to bed at 9.30. Its all about managing your own time and your own body clock. As long as you wake up at the same time each day and get at least 6 hours sleep, you will be fine.

Answer 4

I like it when my Mom used to tell me to go to bed early, mainly because as I was older and I ended up going to bed at like 12 am or 2 am I wouldn't wake up until noon and I felt like crap. I was lazy. When your parents tell you to go to bed at an early time it does your body good.
I go to bed on my own between 10 and 11 pm. I can actually wake up at 7 or 8 am with out feeling like crap.

So maybe just ask if you can stay up an extra 30 minutes now that you're older.

P.S when my Mom told me to go to bed early I was 12 to 13. I am now 15. I go to bed on my own now so my Mom has no need to tell me when to go to bed.

Answer 5

Don't complain, I have to go to bed at 9-9:30 and I'm 15 :(

It really depends, ask them to try it for two weeks your way and see if you're tired or not.

Answer 6

I don't think that you're overreacting, I do think you took the right approach in talking to them. I used to have the same problem, I think you should try to go to sleep, but if it doesn't work, explain it to them. Argue "insomnia"

Answer 7

it's your parents decision, i had to do it too.