Do I let 11 year old DS1 leave the country for two months...

[curlywillow]

I have name changed for this because I'm a regular. This isn't a stealth boast. I am genuinely in a major dilemma.

DS1 loves acting and has recently signed with an agent. He is currently doing some filming on a tv series but only as a supporting actor. We had said that he could do this over the holidays but that it could't interfere with school.

He is very bright and goes to an academically selective independent school. In September he starts at the senior school in Year 7. Competition for places at the school is fierce. Its fairly full on with a couple of hours of homework every single night and high expectations of the pupils.

He has now been offered a main role in a feature film filming overseas for two months. This would be a major disruption for us, although potentially doable in terms of someone accompanying him if we called on favours from grandparents etc. I have a full on job but have a lot of flexibility because I work for myself. DH 's job is also very full on. We also have another DS (9).

God knows what school will say but we're not even at that stage yet. I'm not sure whether we should let him do it or not. It will clearly impact on school but he's only in year 7. He would have a tutor on set.

WWYD?

You can't say no. If you do you and he will always wonder 'what if'. School will love the kudos.

As a teacher I think this would be a much more life-enhancing opportunity than two months of y7 - even if he never acted another day in his life, what a great experience! And they will be tutored on set too, the rules are quite strict.

Having talked it through at length we think we're going to say yes. Unless school withdraws his place, in which case we'd have to think again. I'm hoping that the chances of this are slim, particularly since we have another child at the school and DS1 won the academic achievement prize last year so is hardly in the danger zone for falling behind.

Logistics won't be easy but we should manage.

Blimey. This is going to mean a bit of a life change for a while! Good job I renewed his passport last month!

:) what an amazing opportunity for your DS. Go for it!

I would definitely want someone with him all the time though. There are too many stories of young actors being asked to do things or placed in situations in which they aren't comfortable and feeling that they can't say no to an adult / it will damage their career etc.