Students going down the drain

I teach an online class in environmental science for Northeastern University. I just had a student, in the first week of class, ask me for an extension for the assignments this week because it was......wait for it....his BIRTHDAY. WTF!???? Is this a result of overly indulgent parenting or of too many teachers who are worried about failing students due to the wrath of parents or the educational system? I'm ready to fail him now.