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AIBU?

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Young teen refusing to holiday abroad. Any suggested solutions?

188 replies

LoopyLoo1991 · 27/07/2025 06:27

Not me but a good friend's nephew is camping out at her house to avoid the situation at his home.

His mother and her boyfriend - who doesn't live with them - have paid for a two week holiday in Southern Europe. Nephew wasn't consulted and hated the last holiday to a nearby holiday destination when he was ten. His younger sister and his half sister - his mum's & boyfriend's child - are happy to go.
He is adamant he's not, has taken his passport and hidden it outside their home. No threats or bribes were working on him. He left his family home on Thursday with a bag and turned up on my friend's doorstep unannounced. He's spoken to his mother once to confirm he's okay then blocked her, removed the battery from his phone so he can't tracked and spent the night on the sofa.
He's apparently run away before a couple of years back and was returned by a family friend two days later, so this behaviour isn't a one off.

My friend, her husband - who he gets on with - myself and a couple of others have talked to him. He won't return home unless he's told he's not going and his ticket is cancelled. He's also threatening to burn his passport or if they did manage to drag him to the airport, would make a scene & claim mum's boyfriend was smuggling stuff so none of them would get on the plane.
My friend is badly dyslexic and dreads writing and typing, so posting this to help her out.
The lad is nice and normally friendly - met him at barbecues and parties before - but says he's not being stuck in same apartment with his Mum's BF those thirteen days. His father died a few years back so staying with him isn't an option. My friend would put him up as it's school holidays and she works at a school office but expects major backlash from her sister if she did.
So we're stump as they are meant to be flying out in less than three weeks.

Any possible solutions Mumsnetters?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
ohnotthisagain2025 · 29/07/2025 23:15

TaupeLemur · 29/07/2025 16:35

Glad it’s resolved but this BF sounds as if he may well be abusing the child - emotionally abusing him. The mum may have some difficult decisions to make.
My aunt had a partner who her teen boy hated, the partner was just a bit of a bully. Long story short the partner was fine a couple of years later but it was too late to repair aunt & her son’s relationship. He left home at 16 and quite literally never came back again, moved to the other side of the world.
I know my aunt missing him desperately, has grandchildren she’ll never meet, but as far as my cousin was concerned she chose a man over her own son.

He was right, she did. Sadly, many women do this and then throw up their hands in despair "But why does my child want nothing to do with me?! All I did was not protect them or put them first!"

ohnotthisagain2025 · 29/07/2025 23:13

spirit20 · 27/07/2025 20:15

There's no such thing as an adult 'taking the mickey' out of a 13 year old hobbies, the adult is being emotionally abusive.

Report this to the school if possible, as their safeguarding team should know. I'm not being overly dramatic here, these type of scenarios are the exact type of examples of emotional abuse that are used for safeguarding training for teachers.

The BF sounds like a complete prick who doesn't like males who don't fit into his idea of how boys should act and the mother is being a terrible parent for allowing that BF act like that around her son. I know it might inconvenience the aunt, but seeing as how the mother clearly isn't going to step up and be a proper parent, hopefully the aunt can show the boy that there's at least one adult in his life who's looking out for him.

Right. And I wonder if there's more going on too, new boyfriends are a well known source of abuse and suffering for children, there could be more abuse that the boy is not yet disclosing.

And yep, mothers who allow this to happen right in front of their eyes are equally as bad.

LoopyLoo1991 · 29/07/2025 22:56

Update 3:
K's husband has started to plan taking the nephew, nephew's school mate and an older teen lad from his family (younger cousin?) on a long weekend camping fairly near to K's home. Probably in two weeks weather dependent.
Schoolmum who supportive of the nephew is 100% behind it and her husband may join them for a night (his work schedule is too restrictive for longer unfortunately). I spoke to K earlier and she's so happy for them and her stressing over the whole drama has stopped.

K's husband has been a fantastic bloke all the time I've known him, so he's probably a good person for the nephew to be around regularly.
Thanks again everyone.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 29/07/2025 18:08

I am glad it has been resolved.

TaupeLemur · 29/07/2025 16:35

Glad it’s resolved but this BF sounds as if he may well be abusing the child - emotionally abusing him. The mum may have some difficult decisions to make.
My aunt had a partner who her teen boy hated, the partner was just a bit of a bully. Long story short the partner was fine a couple of years later but it was too late to repair aunt & her son’s relationship. He left home at 16 and quite literally never came back again, moved to the other side of the world.
I know my aunt missing him desperately, has grandchildren she’ll never meet, but as far as my cousin was concerned she chose a man over her own son.

Tekknonan · 29/07/2025 16:29

LoopyLoo1991 · 27/07/2025 06:40

Mum's BF is very opinionated and taken the mickey of the nephew's art projects and hobbies, and nephew want to pursue a future career in a specific field (think working with animals but I don't won't to say the exact job it would be). Been tensions between the two of the since the first year of his Mum dating the BF. They were apparently fine at first. Not met the BF but he sounds like he rubs many people up the wrong way. My friend's husband doesn't particularly like him either. Friend is neutral on him.

This is probably the issue. The BF is basically bullying this kid, the kid doesn't like it or him. A bit of gentle mickey taking is one thing, but ridiculing someone's art projects and hobbies is pretty nasty, especially adult to young teen.

grumpygrape · 29/07/2025 16:11

AuntyDepressant · 29/07/2025 15:37

They’ve been together almost a decade and have a child together.

Hence the (ish).

AuntyDepressant · 29/07/2025 15:37

grumpygrape · 28/07/2025 09:25

What saddens me most is that here is another mother who is putting a new(ish) partner before her children.

They’ve been together almost a decade and have a child together.

AuntyDepressant · 29/07/2025 15:32

spirit20 · 27/07/2025 20:15

There's no such thing as an adult 'taking the mickey' out of a 13 year old hobbies, the adult is being emotionally abusive.

Report this to the school if possible, as their safeguarding team should know. I'm not being overly dramatic here, these type of scenarios are the exact type of examples of emotional abuse that are used for safeguarding training for teachers.

The BF sounds like a complete prick who doesn't like males who don't fit into his idea of how boys should act and the mother is being a terrible parent for allowing that BF act like that around her son. I know it might inconvenience the aunt, but seeing as how the mother clearly isn't going to step up and be a proper parent, hopefully the aunt can show the boy that there's at least one adult in his life who's looking out for him.

Get a grip. Teasing and emotional abuse are two completely different things. Of course there’s such thing as an adult teasing a child 🤦‍♀️

grumpygrape · 28/07/2025 09:25

What saddens me most is that here is another mother who is putting a new(ish) partner before her children.

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 28/07/2025 08:08

Given he has taken the battery out of the phone I don’t think that tactic will work! All you risk is you take the phone (how exactly- he won’t willingly hand it over?) and he runs away again with no means of contacting him.

This is a teenage boy is a lot of distress not someone having a strop.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 27/07/2025 23:40

I think if aunt is happy to have him then mum
Shouldn't force him. Next time he has a choice between summer holiday with family or a language exchange study abroad

LBFseBrom · 27/07/2025 23:29

Elsvieta · 27/07/2025 21:53

Completely; it's like magic. Works in all situations.

What else can OP's friend do? She's not the parent; she doesn't decide whether they're making him go on the holiday or not.

Words fail me. Thank goodness children now have rights and their voices are heard now. The boy is thirteen, not three, he would hardly take such drastic measures if his home life was happy and it has been said he has gone missing before. This time he's gone to his auntie who is a responsible person and trying to help. He should not be forced to go on a holiday that he dreads, where it is far too hot for his taste, with a man who ridicules him. It's not forever, for goodness sake.

Sparklebelle1024 · 27/07/2025 22:59

After RTFT I’m glad he’s getting a say and getting to stay at home, kids do have voices too. Mums BF doesn’t sound the most pleasant or nice person to be around to be honest but that’s another conversation!!

I left my 17 year old ASD DS back home last year for two weeks (not alone with grandparents!) when I took my other special needs DD to Florida, I’m a single parent and he voiced repeatedly it would be his worst nightmare to go to Disneyworld he HATES IT etc, he went very dramatic saying it would be child abuse if I took him! I felt so guilty leaving him behind but we had the best time together and he was perfectly happy at home!
he can be violent and kick off when he’s overstimulated etc so it was the right decision and I got him a MacBook for college as his holiday and everyone was happy. He thanked me actually for listening to him and not dragging him over there cos he hates hot places and busy places and he’s just not a Disney person. Still felt guilty though

grumpygrape · 27/07/2025 22:52

Elsvieta · 27/07/2025 21:53

Completely; it's like magic. Works in all situations.

What else can OP's friend do? She's not the parent; she doesn't decide whether they're making him go on the holiday or not.

Words fail me.

McSpoot · 27/07/2025 22:50

Elsvieta · 27/07/2025 21:14

Tell your friend to take his phone and he gets it back when she's got the passport. Then kid and passport go back to mum and the rest is for her to work out. Teens won't give up their phones for anything.

Did you bother reading the updates? The ones that show that they don’t need your “magic” and have a plan?

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 27/07/2025 22:08

Completely; it's like magic. Works in all situations.

Does it make the mother’s boyfriend stop acting like an arsehole?

Elsvieta · 27/07/2025 21:53

LBFseBrom · 27/07/2025 21:28

I hope you're not serious.

Completely; it's like magic. Works in all situations.

What else can OP's friend do? She's not the parent; she doesn't decide whether they're making him go on the holiday or not.

LBFseBrom · 27/07/2025 21:28

Elsvieta · 27/07/2025 21:14

Tell your friend to take his phone and he gets it back when she's got the passport. Then kid and passport go back to mum and the rest is for her to work out. Teens won't give up their phones for anything.

I hope you're not serious.

Elsvieta · 27/07/2025 21:14

Tell your friend to take his phone and he gets it back when she's got the passport. Then kid and passport go back to mum and the rest is for her to work out. Teens won't give up their phones for anything.

steff13 · 27/07/2025 21:09

JamesWebbSpaceTelescope · 27/07/2025 06:31

I would be asking more questions about the boyfriend. Why does this child have just a strong reaction to spending a week with him?

You can’t force someone to do something they really don’t want to do. I think him staying with his aunt would be the better option.

Yes, this. Why does he feel so strongly?

SchoolDilemma17 · 27/07/2025 21:06

My mother was exactly like this. Poor child, one parent dead and the other one prioritises a bloke over him. I am glad he has a loving aunt.

UsernameMcUsername · 27/07/2025 20:59

I have a 13yo son and can't imagine wanting to be with someone who treated him like that. I opened this thread assuming the teen was BU, but nope. Who would want to spend two weeks with a bloke who belittled them, just because their mother happened to be shagging said bloke? Also at that age he really should be part of the decision making process, and his feelings taken into account as much as anyone else's. If a family member struggles with really hot weather, don't book a family holiday to Spain in late July / early August???? Surely this isn't hard? Obviously I don't know where exactly they're off to, but its going to be nearly 40 degrees in Seville tomorrow.

FumingTRex · 27/07/2025 20:27

The mum needs to start listening to the DS and stop prioritising her boyfriend, starting with not making him go on this holiday.

If I were her I would hold my hands up and admit I messed up by assuming DS would be ok with the holiday. Tell him he doesn’t have to go and offer to make up for it with another trip/activity.

spirit20 · 27/07/2025 20:15

There's no such thing as an adult 'taking the mickey' out of a 13 year old hobbies, the adult is being emotionally abusive.

Report this to the school if possible, as their safeguarding team should know. I'm not being overly dramatic here, these type of scenarios are the exact type of examples of emotional abuse that are used for safeguarding training for teachers.

The BF sounds like a complete prick who doesn't like males who don't fit into his idea of how boys should act and the mother is being a terrible parent for allowing that BF act like that around her son. I know it might inconvenience the aunt, but seeing as how the mother clearly isn't going to step up and be a proper parent, hopefully the aunt can show the boy that there's at least one adult in his life who's looking out for him.