(((((Rosario))))) I can see both sides of this...disagreement.

Things are different now. Even if the safety of the children isn't an issue (luckily where I live it is not an issue, I have however lived in places where the kids were not permitted outside without my direct supervision). Kids today have a lot more homework now then I ever did in school. For some reason, they have a lot more homework in elementary than in high school!

When my twins were in the third grade, we had hours of homework every single night! My older two were in jr. High and they had far less homework, so there is an end in sight to this!

As for your daughter wanting another day, hmm, is there a way that dad can do an every other Wed. thing?

And a bit of unwanted advice, it is wonderful that your 10 year old plays with the little one, but be sure that she has some time with just her friends. That was a big problem in our house. I don't know if it was because I have identical twins as the babies of the family, but my daughter (middle child) very much resented the fact that many of her friends would spend more time with the twins than her.

I don't think you're wrong at all for putting your foot down. Furthermore (((((hug))))) there is an extra hug for helping the friends with their homework. Our house was the hang out, and my rule was homework first, and we actually did get it completed faster with everyone doing the same homework at the same time.

This is a tightrope that I am very happy to be finished with. I remember very well as a young girl being left out because everyone did x, and I was not permitted to do so. The pre-teen / teen years suck for girls.

Perhaps you can negotiate an extra day with your daughter. She helps with the chores and her friends can come over another day. I'm sorry that I was not able to be of more help.