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AIBU?

AIBU or is dd? WWYD?

32 replies

shhhgobacktosleep · 14/01/2013 19:40

Dd (16) has been with her first boyfriend since November. Both dd & b/f board at the same school (we are a military family) and so see each other every day, although they don't have any lessons together and don't live in the same house. As her parents dh and I haven't really had much to say about it other than the "its important to Be Safe" conversation that we've had with all our kids on a fairly regular basis since they hit their teens and we're quite open to discussion if they need advice or want to talk. B/f is German, joined the 6th form in sept and is only staying a year at the school a year.

Tonight dd has called me, chatted as usual and then said b/f had asked her to go stay with him in Germany either at half term or at Easter and could she go? I replied that dh and I would give it some thought but that I had to say it would be unlikely. She then snapped "so that's a no then" to which I repeated what I'd said and gave reasons that would make me uncomfortable with giving permission - she'd be in a foreign country if something happened which would mean I couldn't be there for her immediately; we've never met the boy or his parents (although ds also knows him) and he won't be at the school very long at all. She seems to think IABU and has said she's not a baby, she's not stupid and I've let her visit friends in other countries before so why not now. Apparently her friend's have been on holiday with their b/fs, stayed at their houses etc. I told her that has no bearing on my decision whatsoever and my role in life is to protect her and look out for her.

I feel I may be being slightly unreasonable as I know at her age I was staying at b/f's house BUT he was in the same city (until we went to uni) and we were together for several years.

As I've said this is dd's first boyfriend and she has always seemed to have a level head when it comes to the opposite sex. But she's made me feel awful and the phone call ended with a very frosty air on her part.

Sorry it's so long but felt I should give all the details in one go. So AIBU? And how would you have dealt with it?

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InNeedOfBrandy · 14/01/2013 19:43

Oh I usually advocate give them more freedom but I wouldn't want my dd in a different country at her boyfriends when I don't know the family.

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RedHelenB · 14/01/2013 19:44

I would say i would like his parents to phone me with the invitation & discuss things with them.

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JusticeCrab · 14/01/2013 19:44

I can see why you have a problem with it having never met the b/f, but I also see your dd's point of view. Do they have exeats? If so, is it possible to have him over to your place on an exeat first, so you can meet him? (If he's in Germany he won't have time to go home during an exeat so would be able to come to your place).

Then if it all goes well you can make arrangements for the German trip.

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JusticeCrab · 14/01/2013 19:44

RedHelen's advice is also good.

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shhhgobacktosleep · 14/01/2013 19:55

They do have exeats JusticeCrab but we live too far away ourselves for them to come home for one (leave school Saturday afternoon and return for Sunday evening). Dh has suggested b/f come here instead but she seems less keen. I know at some point she will be in a relationship that inv

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shhhgobacktosleep · 14/01/2013 19:57

Oops posted too soon

Relationship that involves sex but I don't want her in a foreign country feeling pressured if she doesn't want to and me being in a different country.

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FelicityWasSanta · 14/01/2013 20:00

Yanbu at all.

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digerd · 14/01/2013 20:00

I found the german men and boys very polite and responsible. But will she be staying with his parents and if so, they would expect you to contact them, being the girl's parents. To introduce yourselves and to thank them for having your daughter stay with them. They may not speak english though. Do you speak german?
I would expect the boy to expect you to want to be introduced to him. And they shake hands as a greeting, by the way. I found it rather formal at first, but grew to find it very respectful.

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deleted203 · 14/01/2013 20:01

I think that as it is a new relationship you would be perfectly justified in saying that you think it is too soon for this - but that if they are still together in the summer holidays you and DH would be much more amenable to the idea. From what you have said they started seeing each other in Nov - and it's only January. So to be going to stay in Feb half term seems a bit rushed, IMO.

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ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 14/01/2013 20:05

tbh she's 16, you can't really stop her.......you can however say no to paying her travel costs Wink

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AltinkumATEalltheTurkey · 14/01/2013 20:09

She's 16, she dosen't really have to listen to you, or even ask your permission to do things.

I can't say you're BU as I don't think you are, but technically she's a adult.

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shhhgobacktosleep · 14/01/2013 20:13

sowornout I think you've hit the nail on the head - it feels too soon. I'm worried as he's leaving at the end of this year that she'll feel even more pressured to do something she may not want to or be ready for.

Digerd I visited Germany a few times as a teenager myself and did speak some German but that was a long time ago and I have had no need for it since. Ds knows him too and has said he's "ok" lol but nothing more but hey he's a teenage boy so am guessing he doesn't really want to discuss his sister's 'love life'. Grin

She will absolutely know that I would want to speak to the parents first as that has always been a condition of any sleepovers at friend's houses or indeed friends staying with us over holidays etc.

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JustFabulous · 14/01/2013 20:14

How can 16 be an adult? You can't get married without permission, vote or drink in a bar.

What I would do is say no.

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FelicityWasSanta · 14/01/2013 20:14

She's 16, she dosen't really have to listen to you, or even ask your permission to do things.

Yes she does, she is a minor, who is financially dependent on the OP.

I can't say you're BU as I don't think you are, but technically she's a adult.

Technically she is a minor.

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shhhgobacktosleep · 14/01/2013 20:16

Yes I am aware of that, which is partly why I feel a little unreasonable but a you point out ACT she will be expecting us to pay for flights etc so that does give us a say. I'd be more inclined to say yes if they were in the same country (I think ).

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floweryblue · 14/01/2013 20:19

If the options for DD to visit boyfriend are half term and Easter, could the boyfriend visit you at half term and, if you are happy, DD could go to boyfriend at Easter?

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TinyDancingHoofer · 14/01/2013 20:21

I think YABU because you've already said yourself that the school is quite far from where you live and Germany really isn't that far. At 16 i would say she is old enough. But i would definitely want to talk to the parents and make her earn half the cost of flights to see if she is actually serious about the idea.

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InNeedOfBrandy · 14/01/2013 20:27

I would compromise and say summer holidays and cross my fingers they have split up by then Wink

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Nanny0gg · 14/01/2013 20:29

Can't you go for the weekend near the school and meet him that way?

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Fenouille · 14/01/2013 20:32

Just one additional point about cultural differences. Unless I am very much mistaken sex between teens is not seen in the same way as the UK. If both are under 16 then it is not illegal or treated as statutory rape as in the UK. Having lived in a house share in Germany with the 14 year old daughter of my landlady I can say she was given considerable freedom to bring her boyfriend home and have him spend the night in her room.

I personally would want to speak to the parents to find out what their expectations of their son's relationships are/have been with previous girlfriends.

I should add that I have no recent experience of teens and was brought up by strict parents in the 80s so am hopelessly out of date about current teen behaviour Grin

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AltinkumATEalltheTurkey · 14/01/2013 20:41

Technically she may be a minor, but she can leave home, leave school, (If she is not in the 18 leavers year group). Rent a flat, receive some benefits etc...

But as I say, I don't think your BU.

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JusticeCrab · 14/01/2013 20:46

Hmm. So exeats are a no-no. As a side note - Saturday school, co-educational boarding, lots of pupils from military families... sounds a lot like my old school, this!

floweryblue's idea is good but would need discussing with his parents first.

Whatever happens, I think the only way to be satisfied he's a good egg is to meet him in some way (perhaps get him, dd and yourselves together for a meet-the-parents meal near the school, just after everyone breaks up for half-term? Not so easy given that he'll be travelling to Germany afterwards). Until that happens then your dd can't reasonably expect you to give her the go-ahead to do this.

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shhhgobacktosleep · 14/01/2013 21:02

Oh justicecrab that's a really good idea. And I 'think' (although would need to double check) that there is a parents meeting set up at some point soon (ish) and presumably one or both of his parent's may be there but at very least we could take him out for something to eat Smile will suggest that to dd.

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NonnoMum · 14/01/2013 21:50

Alternative suggestion - you saying 'not sure/don't think so' and your DD's reaction could be masking her thinking, "Phew, not allowed this time, maybe I can put this off a bit longer and besides I'm not that keen on ham and cheese for breakfast" and then see if she asks again.
Sometimes teenagers WANT people to say NO to them so they can sit in their room and listen to The Smiths and MOAN.

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FelicityWasSanta · 14/01/2013 22:07

Technically she may be a minor, but she can leave home, leave school, (If she is not in the 18 leavers year group)

At 16 she IS in the year group which is not legally able to leave school/education/work/training.

As for the rest of the 'freedoms' she's entitled to, I doubt shed trade them for the benefits of being one of the OPs children.

16 year olds cannot IMHO say 'I'm an adult I'm doing whatever I like' and then still expect to be kept at boarding school, fed, clothed and holidays paid for.

The provision for 16 year olds to live independently is only supposed to benefit children not safe in their own homes- very very few 16 year olds strike out into successful independence without a pretty harsh push.

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