Philosopher, in every generation parents complain how much harder it is for them than the previous generation. Nothing has changed. We each have our own set of issues to deal with. Do you think when MY kids were small I didn’t have to deal with the same problem? I did, and I knew my kids. If they didn’t get to bed at a certain hour they didn’t get to bed for hours and then couldn’t get up in the morning. I didn’t expect my kids to tell time or keep track of time. That was MY responsibility, and if I was late they were late. I didn’t blame them I blamed myself for not paying attention to the clock or for losing track of time. But regardless of the times I messed up, it was my responsibility to set my rules my way and then follow through with them no matter what the other kids were doing. One mother has to be the first to bring her kids in and then the rest follow slowly thereafter. Sure its hard, but that’s life.
One mother is the first to allow her child to cross the street by themselves, or to ride their bike in the street, or to walk to school by themselves, or to take the city bus, etc. That mother has to decide that her child is ready to take on that responsibility. But just because that mother does so, that doesn’t mean that you have to even if it is hard to say no. AND that is the reality of raising children in this generation, the one before this one and the one that will come after.