oriecat

So at 11:30pm tonight I logged onto my msn messenger and who do I see there but my 12 year old nephew. I immediately wonder why he is up so late. We "talked" for about 15 minutes, and then I logged off to get ready for bed. Now am I being old fashioned, or is that really late for a 12 year old to be up, even on a Saturday? He told me that he is at home, meaning his mom's house, and not my brothers house. I wonder if my brother knows he stays up that late. I wonder if he lets him stay up this late. If he does, then fine, I would never tell him to do otherwise, it's his kid, but my main concern would be whether he knows. But then what could he do anyway? How do divorced parents deal with that kind of stuff, when they disagree about things like that? The whole thing just got me curious, I guess. Should I call my brother tomorrow and ask him if he knows his kid stays up that late when he is at his moms? Should I not worry about it and just mind my own business? What would you want if it was your kid or your nephew?

Sakpo

I used to stay up into the early hours of the morning when I was 12...if he's safe at home and it isn't a school night I certainly don't see the harm in it.

Pensee

I wouldn't worry about it. It's the weekend. Maybe if it were a school night, but not a Saturday night.

seesaw

I agree, I wouldn't worry about it sense it's the weekend.

seebs

I have been told that teenagers are biologically predisposed not to sleep in the early half of the night; certainly, I never knew anyone from 12 to 17 or so who wasn't always up until "late".

RED DAVE

Have his parents beat him about the loins and make sure he sleeps with his hands tied behind his back.

I promise you, he is not doing research for his history homework.

RED DAVE

managalar

11:30 is only late if he plans on getting up at 5AM or something

I bet if he goes to sleep at 12, he'll get up at about 8AM, or if he goes to bed at 1AM, he'll get up at 9AM

just because he's up �late� does not mean he's being sleep deprived, and forced sleep deprivation is the only thing you should worry about or report

cricket

I can't believe what I'm reading here.

Oriecat, are you serious?

There are people in bed at 11:30?

Godless Dave

When I was 12 I stayed up past midnight every Saturday to watch Doctor Who. Although it's healthier to try to keep the same bedtime over the weekends so you don't mess up your schedule when the school/work week starts again I don't think there's anything wrong with letting a kid that age stay up late on Friday and Saturday nights.

If he were 5 it would be a different story.

oriecat

I know it sounds crazy, Cricket! But I'm getting old and can't stay up like I used to.


Thanks everyone! I figured I was making too much of it. Just had to be the protective aunt I guess...