DEAR AMY: I am a freshman in high school. Last year, I often had trouble getting up in the morning, which caused me to miss the school bus multiple times. My parents helped me to fix this issue by having me go to bed earlier. This year, I get myself up on time, and have not missed the bus once. But my parents still won't let me stay up later. They still make me go to bed at around 9:45, even though I am not at all tired and I usually don't fall asleep for at least another hour. All I ask is to be allowed to go to bed around 10:15 after watching some TV. My older brother has been going to bed past 11 p.m. for years. How can I convince my parents that they are being completely draconian? 
 Not Tired 
 DEAR TIRED: By all means, use the word "draconian" when you are trying to communicate with your parents. We parents love it when our kids use their vocabulary words in the correct context, and this tells me that you've been paying attention in school -- and that you are rested enough to be articulate. On the other hand, if your folks know what "draconian" means, they might not be too thrilled. 
 The solution here seems obvious. You negotiate with your parents a "limited-time" offer. Ask them to test you by letting you stay up half an hour later for one week. If you oversleep, you agree to go to bed when they say. 
 Teens need almost as much sleep as toddlers do, and the fact that they don't get it is one reason they sometimes act like toddlers. 
 DEAR AMY: Every year I feel as if I'm the only person on the planet who doesn't have plans for New Year's Eve. Any words of comfort for me? 
 Alone 
 DEAR ALONE: Honestly, I don't know anyone who has plans on this night. So join me (virtually) as we watch the throngs in Times Square on TV. I'll be home, playing charades until the ball drops.

DEAR AMY: I am a freshman in high school. Last year, I often had trouble getting up in the morning, which caused me to miss the school bus multiple times. My parents helped me to fix this issue by having me go to bed earlier. This year, I get myself up on time, and have not missed the bus once. But my parents still won't let me stay up later. They still make me go to bed at around 9:45, even though I am not at all tired and I usually don't fall asleep for at least another hour. All I ask is to be allowed to go to bed around 10:15 after watching some TV. My older brother has been going to bed past 11 p.m. for years. How can I convince my parents that they are being completely draconian? Not Tired DEAR TIRED: By all means, use the word "draconian" when you are trying to communicate with your parents. We parents love it when our kids use their vocabulary words in the correct context, and this tells me that you've been paying attention in school -- and that you are rested enough to be articulate. On the other hand, if your folks know what "draconian" means, they might not be too thrilled. The solution here seems obvious. You negotiate with your parents a "limited-time" offer. Ask them to test you by letting you stay up half an hour later for one week. If you oversleep, you agree to go to bed when they say. Teens need almost as much sleep as toddlers do, and the fact that they don't get it is one reason they sometimes act like toddlers. DEAR AMY: Every year I feel as if I'm the only person on the planet who doesn't have plans for New Year's Eve. Any words of comfort for me? Alone DEAR ALONE: Honestly, I don't know anyone who has plans on this night. So join me (virtually) as we watch the throngs in Times Square on TV. I'll be home, playing charades until the ball drops.

News

LSAMY31

Teen is tired of his early bedtime

Newsday

Homepage Trending

Newsday Investigates

First day of school on LI dates

Wallet Watch

FeedMe Magazine

NEWSDAY TV SHORTS

Vertical videos

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa visits Dom's Famous Chicken Fingers in Plainview.

Trendy Bites: Dom's Famous Chicken Fingers

The Long Island Game Farm Wildlife Park in Manorville has a new alligator enclosure to go along with their existing reptile experiences. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

Check out the alligator enclosure at the LI Game Farm Wildlife Park

NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa heads to Mastic Seafood to slice some fish and shuck some oysters on this week's LI Works.

LI Works: Shucking oysters and hauling fish at a local seafood market

The country superstar performed at Nassau Coliseum and helped get books to Wyandanch kids. Newsday film critic Rafer Guzmán has more.

Remembering Dolly Parton

NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits the Jamesport Farm Brewery, which has been recently purchased by the owners of Waterdrinker Farms.

Out East: Jamesport Farm Brewery

A Newsday data analysis shows that ICE agents detained just 72 immigrants in Nassau and Suffolk counties in July, down from 322 in January. Newsday data reporter Anastasia Valeeva explains.

ICE arrests on Long Island drop, data shows

Cleaning crews were hard at work after a tornado ripped through the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach Thursday evening. NewsdayTV's Andrew Ehinger reports.

'It was just a whistling sound that came right through'

Newsday travel reporter Carissa Kellman learns about renting and driving a skiff boat at Ted's Fishing Station in Point Lookout.

Cruise Long Island's shoreline on your own private boat

Since girls flag football became an official sport in New York high schools in the spring of 2023, participation in the sport has increased nearly 70%, NewsdayTV's Jared Valluzzi reports.

Flag football taking over spring sports

The Yankees' George Lombard Jr. and the Mets' A.J. Ewing went straight from high school to the pros. That might not be an option starting in 2028. NewsdayTV's Gregg Sarra reports.

Why MLB wants to make high school players ineligible for the amateur draft

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/video/newsdaytv-top-stories">Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories</a>

Newsday TV

NewsdayTV Top Item

President and CEO of Nassau University Medical Center Thomas Stokes explains the problems caused by the aging infrastructure within the hospital. Newsday Associate Editor Joye Brown reports.

Inside look at NUMC's aging infrastructure

News - megaslot

Newsday has the most up-to-date stories on Long Island & NTC. Join us & stay current with news articles on sports, business, health, technology & more.

Stay logged in.