Pushing bedtime for a one time event

[Anonymous]

There’s an event I’d love to attend but it’s on a Sunday evening and I’ve struck out with all my sitters. It starts at 7:30pm and DS usually heads to bed around 7:30-8pm. He’s in 1st grade.

Would it be ok for DS to attend? Event is relevant to his enrichment activity (music), and doesn’t happen again for at least a few years.

I think the event ends around 9pm and then it would probably be another half hour to get home.

[Anonymous]

Best guess he would be in bed around 10pm.

[Anonymous]

Are you serious? Of course it's ok. Do you have only one kid? This is a really weird question.

[Anonymous]

You know your kid best. One of my kids would be just fine and would love to go. The other would be a shtshow.

[Anonymous]

We do this without issue with our second grader (and have for a few years).

[Anonymous]

Good God. First time mom questions.

Yes, of course, OP. Go with your kid and have fun.

[Anonymous]

Have him attend the concert, knowing the next day will be hard, and he'll need to go to bed earlier.

My kids attended concerts and events related to their older siblings' activities from a young age, and we had to adjust bedtimes and have them catch up on sleep the following night. As long as your usual routine is healthy, a few exceptions won't matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have him attend the concert, knowing the next day will be hard, and he'll need to go to bed earlier.

My kids attended concerts and events related to their older siblings' activities from a young age, and we had to adjust bedtimes and have them catch up on sleep the following night. As long as your usual routine is healthy, a few exceptions won't matter.

Thanks… yes I’m a mom of one kid and I’ve been very protective of his sleep so far! I also wonder if it’s worth taking him or whether he will just sleep at the concert (will people be offended?). Tickets are $140 each and the artist does not perform often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have him attend the concert, knowing the next day will be hard, and he'll need to go to bed earlier.

My kids attended concerts and events related to their older siblings' activities from a young age, and we had to adjust bedtimes and have them catch up on sleep the following night. As long as your usual routine is healthy, a few exceptions won't matter.

Thanks… yes I’m a mom of one kid and I’ve been very protective of his sleep so far! I also wonder if it’s worth taking him or whether he will just sleep at the concert (will people be offended?). Tickets are $140 each and the artist does not perform often.

Yes, If you think he will be asleep before you get home I would change him into his pajamas or whatever he wears to bed

[Anonymous]

It is ok - read healthy sleep habits happy child. You have a routine but you can occasionally change it.

[Anonymous]

Yes I would do this for a one-off event.

I'd also be prepared to let him sleep in the next day and go to school late, even if this would be viewed as an "unexcused tardy" because I think missing an hour of 1st grade is not a big deal, there is benefit in attending events like this, and also I don't view the school as the boss of me. I get to make the decisions I think are best for my kid, within reason.

BTW, cool it with the "oh my god, first time moms" or "ugh is he an only" comments, fellow PPs. OP felt unsure, she asked. You can answer or not, you don't have to criticize entire categories of moms in the process. I know moms of multiples with older kids who would question this choice too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have him attend the concert, knowing the next day will be hard, and he'll need to go to bed earlier.

My kids attended concerts and events related to their older siblings' activities from a young age, and we had to adjust bedtimes and have them catch up on sleep the following night. As long as your usual routine is healthy, a few exceptions won't matter.

Thanks… yes I’m a mom of one kid and I’ve been very protective of his sleep so far! I also wonder if it’s worth taking him or whether he will just sleep at the concert (will people be offended?). Tickets are $140 each and the artist does not perform often.

Yes, If you think he will be asleep before you get home I would change him into his pajamas or whatever he wears to bed

He'll sleep in the car ride back. It'll be too loud and too hard to sleep at the concert.

Are you sure he won't be bored? Add in the restlessness, boredom of a concert, $140 each (yikes!), and a late night/drive home, and I'm thinking this had better be worth it to you.

[Anonymous]

Is there no father in the picture?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think it will hurt his well-being for him to attend. It is fine if he goes and listens, or naps, or sits still and entertains himself with something that won’t disturb others.

It would not be fair to others for him to be cranky and loud, wandering around, etc. Some 1st graders might not be ready to attend a concert under optimal conditions, much less when it’s past their bedtime. Knowing your son, you need to determine if he’ll be able to behave appropriately.

If you do go, you might want to consider taking some ear plugs for him to wear if it’s too loud. Concerts of all kinds tend to crank the volume and kids have sensitive ears. If he finds the volume painful, you could offer him something to baffle it.

[Anonymous]

Is it Bruce Springstein Op?