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AIBU?

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Kirstie Allsop's 15 Year Old Son

415 replies

ImAFemaleVersionOfRoyKeane · 20/08/2024 05:23

Kirstie Allsop has just posted on X (Twitter) that her 15 year old son has just returned from inter-railing around Europe.

He was accompanied by his 16 year old friend.

AIBU to think this is too young?

These situations may seem OK but at that age they think they are invincible, so they can be impulsive and not make the best decisions, especially when something goes wrong!

OP posts:
Pussygaloregalapagos · 20/08/2024 06:09

I think it is ok. My friend and I went to Lanzarote on our own after our GCSEs. Both sets of parents ok with it. Had a nice time. Did run out of money midweek but we got to the end of the week and got home.

pollyglot · 20/08/2024 06:09

4x gt grandfather went to sea, all alone, as a powder monkey at the age of 8!! Just a baby! He survived Trafalgar on the Temeraire which had 18% of the crew killed or wounded. i don't recommend it, of course....

babyproblems · 20/08/2024 06:08

Think it’s fine. Think kids need more of this to be honest. Not enough unsupervised exploring happens in my opinion and I think it’s one of the reasons young people struggle as adults these days.

Zanatdy · 20/08/2024 06:07

Gosh no, I would not allow that. I’m surprised they could get accommodation being under 18. My DD is 16, and I wouldn’t let her go on holiday alone. I might drive her to a U.K. holiday and stay nearby, but absolutely no way to inter railing around Europe. My DD travelled to Bangladesh on her own age 14, so I’ve no issue with letting her do things alone, but I wouldn’t want her travelling around, or my son at that age.

Saracen · 20/08/2024 06:00

Sounds good to me! He could get in trouble at home too.

leopardski · 20/08/2024 05:52

It says in her post that he turns 16 tomorrow. And that she wanted to build his confidence by letting him do this or something or other. He’ll have just done his GCSEs and as others said has stack loads of cash to do it properly and safely so I don’t see a problem. From one of her later posts sounds like his biggest takeaway was the variances at European McDonald’s 🤣 so I’m sure he’s had a ball.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 20/08/2024 05:52

He is 16 tommorow, presumably home for his GCSE results. It all sounds fine.

Firenzeflower · 20/08/2024 05:47

They're rich, loaded with credit cards and connections. Probably travelled constantly through his life with that utter confidence public school boys have. It's not the same as when I did it. Rich inter railing is probably very safe.

I ran outogoney very quickly and slept in some dodgy places. Also hadn't travelled or have a mobile phone.

Allsopp is always loved being contraversal.

Stopsnowing · 20/08/2024 05:38

the best holiday I ever had was Interrailing although I was 19 at the time. This was pre phones.

now they have phones and internet. So if she trusts him then no issue.

StrangeFoodChoice · 20/08/2024 05:35

He probably stayed in the best hotels and traveled first class, I wouldn’t worry on his behalf

Lifestooshort71 · 20/08/2024 05:35

It sounds like an informed decision by someone who knows her child well. I hope they had a great trip.

KellyJonesLeatherTrousers · 20/08/2024 05:35

You can think what you like, doesn’t make it wrong though!

MrsKwazi · 20/08/2024 05:27

Well he obviously came back in one piece? You don’t know all the facts, maybe they met up somewhere, maybe he stopped at family friends along the way? Good for him and his friend!

Ozgirl75 · 20/08/2024 05:27

Maybe he’s young in the year? My son’s birthday is end of August and I can imagine if we lived in the U.K. that he could want to go travelling at the end of GCSEs and based on what he’s like now as a nearly 14 year old, I could imagine in two years he would be fine to go.
Probably depends on the child.

Edingril · 20/08/2024 05:26

I wouldn't do it but if she is OK with it not sure why I would have an issue?