To say that 16yr olds are too young THESE DAYS to make decisions

[Kattyy]

Mine went for a GP. I had arranged. You know that they are in charge of their medical health from when they're 16, right?
All he needed to do was to attend and pick up a precription. Came home with nothing... so frustrating! Really needed the prescription! At 16 they dont know their head from their ass...

[WorraLiberty]

And all old people like to play bingo, right?

16 year olds are as individual as anyone else.

1 of mine would probably have ballsed it up, the other 2 probably wouldn't have.

[NonaGrey]

^Your% 16 yo old is apparently too young but the majority of sixteen year olds I know are more than capable.

And why on earth didn’t he make his own appointment?

Why didn’t he come home with his prescription?

[Kattyy]

Lol. Old people. Am a young mum.

[bridgetreilly]

16 yos need more responsibility not less, so that they actually learn to make better decisions. Send him back to sort it out.

[Kattyy]

Nona, however yeah- why on earth did he not come home with the prescription- have no idea... and why he still cant put down a toilet seat

[Walkingdeadfangirl]

Totally agree, its 18 in this country. They are still at school at 16!

[FlyingMonkeys]

I scheduled my own medical appointments at 14. Including an appointment for contraception to regulate my periods. I didn't need my mum to ring for me, I was also quite capable of collecting my own prescriptions. I think we baby children more than we used to. If you can't do basis things by 16-18 then how on earth are you going to navigate life without your mum tagging along?

[NonaGrey]

Katty didn’t you ask him? Perhaps the doctor had reason not to give it to him?

[IvorHughJarrs]

I think generations have got progressively younger.
At 16 two of mine were helpless and hopeless whereas I was more capable and had started a Saturday job. My parents had both been in full time work for 2 years for years at 16 and grandparents were working full time, away from home (e.g. at sea, in service, on a farm) well before that age

[Kattyy]

I know Flying M , thats why i said "these days... think you aren't 16. Well I moved out at 16 and was perfectly capable. Looking around tho, some of them can't take a tube at 14-15 if parents aren't organising...

[Kattyy]

Yeah Nona G of course I asked him- he didnt know his head from his arse

[Tomatoesrock]

No, maybe some. The few I know are responsible.

Does he lack confidence. Did the GP not issue the prescription during the visit.

What was his reason for not getting it.

[Graphista]

Depends how they're raised surely? Generally speaking.

What was the prescription for? They're not on request, the dr has to think it's appropriate and needed.

Dd is 17, she's been making her own appointments (including dental check ups) for past couple years.

[Tomatoesrock]

Cross post.
You should have sent him back again, that would teach him

[NinetySixer]

I’m not massively older than your son. I was arranging my own medical appointments from 14. At 16 I would have been so embarrassed to have my mum go in with me. Just because your son is incapable don’t tar a whole generation.

[FlyingMonkeys]

Nope not 16 but under 40. I was also a 'young mum'. Dd passed her driving test at 17 a couple of years ago. Instructor didn't expect me to tag along in the back of the car either. I think a strong emphasis on basic life skills should be taught to kids again. Being 'young' at mid 20's unfortunately seems the norm these days.

[NonaGrey]

I don’t really understand what that means Katty.

It’s not a complicated conversation surely.

[Kattyy]

Naah, I generally think he'd lost interest by the time he was seen by the GP. And if he ever had to schedule hos own dentist appointments, I'd probs be looking for dentures right now... Really- everyone other's kids are like superorganised? Where did i go wrong???

[Kattyy]

Nona, yeah - u have a teenager? They anwer in monosyllables

[SofiaAmes]

I have one of each. Dd is 15 and has flown across the atlantic twice by herself already and is making and keeping her own doctors' appointments etc. Ds....well he's currently 17 going on 3 and will NEVER be able to manage it on his own...takes after his dad who couldn't manage it at 50.

[FlyingMonkeys]

So if you were running your own home at 16. Why haven't you imparted that knowledge base/skill set to your own child? Sorry - genuinely not being goady! But I am curious.

[Graphista]

What flyingmonkeys said - also still curious what the prescription was for (wondering if antibiotics).

[NoSquirrels]

There’s something medically up with your DS that you think requires a prescription.

Your DS went to a GP appt and came home without a prescription.

Why is it your DS’s fault? Presumably the GP didn’t agree he needed any medication.

[Kattyy]

Oh, FlyingM, possibly got me there, reckon was overly protective? Naah, he just has the cushioning. Doesn't need to, think.

[Disquieted1]

16 year olds have a completely different perspective on what is important. To us it might seem irresponsible, but to the 16 year old mind it is quite normal.