We moved house about 3 yrs ago and DS stayed in contact with one of his friends. Initially the travelling was not an issue because DS had free train travel through hubby's job, so it was accepted DS would go to them.
When it was DS 16th birthday his friend was invited and we paid for his train tickets. DS travelled up and escorted his friend to ours. No offer of a contribution came from his friend. The tickets are about £45 return.
Fast forward to this year. Hubby has changed jobs so no more free train travel. Despite this DS has still gone up there at our expense. It's his 17th birthday in a few weeks and DS wants his friend to come. His family despite being told DS no longer has free travel has assumed the same will happen again. Ie travel up and escorts friend on train and the same on way back.
I don't see why we should be forking out to buy train tickets constantly for DS AND his friend. When DS goes to his friends annual party we have to get him there at our own cost. Surely a 17yr old is capable of getting on a train by himself?
I don't know about their finances but both the friends parents drive (I dont) and his friend has a pt job (DSdoesnt)
Are we being mean?