Anyone else?

I am sitting here, as I type, waiting for my son to finish his math homework. It is 9:12pm. He should be in bed. He has been at these 30 problems for over an hour.

So why you ask?

BECAUSE HE REFUSES TO STAY ON TASK WITHOUT ME SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM THE ENTIRE TIME!

And then when I give up and don't sit by him, because I don't want to be held hostage to 7th grade homework, what does he do?

He tries to do it IN FRONT OF THE TV!

And why you ask, do I let him sit in front of the TV? Because the amount of fighting that would ensue when I turn it off takes up just as much time as letting him sit there with the TV on. It's a no win. Doesn't matter what I do.

Not every night is like this. But some nights, yes. He doesn't get home until almost 5pm after school. By the time he eats something and takes a break to rest a bit, it's 6pm at a minimum, more likely closer to 7pm. And even on a good night he isn't likely to be done with homework until 8:30 or so. It's ridiculous the way homework takes over family life, even for "good" kids.