Am I wrong for teaching my daughter the importance of sleep?
The narrator, a parent to a spirited 7-year-old, shares a story about teaching their daughter the importance of sleep by letting her stay up all night to experience the consequences of fatigue. The conflict arises from the daughter’s resistance to bedtime rules, believing it unfair that adults can stay awake while she must sleep.
To address her complaints, the parent allowed her to stay up as late as she wanted, resulting in a tiring day of school and extracurriculars. While the lesson appeared to work, as the child voluntarily adhered to bedtime the next night, the narrator’s wife and others questioned whether the approach was too harsh or manipulative.
Image credits: iddea photo (not the actual photo)
This story probes the boundaries of tough love and effective parenting, raising questions about whether allowing children to face the natural consequences of their choices is educational or overly punitive. It also reflects the tension between short-term discomfort and long-term growth in parenting decisions.
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