Reading Festival - the teen is going how bad is it

[SouthWestmom]

Ok ds is going with three mates and taking tents (two in each).

They've bought weekend tickets.

I'm trying to persuade him to get some gold toilet and shower package but he won't unless they all do 'and they won't sell out'

Do they pay for a camp space? Pitch?

How violent is it? If at all?

@fourquenelles let's do it!!

Have told him I've sought Mumsnet advice and received an

We were cool before he was born

God Reading Festival mums would be amazing. Wandering around with a phone charger, paracetamol, clean t shirts...

MrsTP he must never know! When I try to tell him anything about safety at parties/drinking/drugs I'm told 'yeah you and your library friends were probably really wild.'

I used to tour with rock bands and I get a "I know mummy, you were 'cool'" with air quotes. From a NINE year old.

those days of glory

That would earn you a sneer in this household and a mocking suggestion you were actually a deluded groupie. No one is allowed any form of cool round here.

deluded groupie

I like the sound of your house!

My DD went to Leeds last year after GCSEs, it was fine, she was a bit overwhelmed one day and went into the welfare tent for a cup of tea and a biscuit and a chat, and I think that put her of drug-taking from seeing all the people completely out of it in there. There were loads from her school there, and we are not particularly local. Getting texts to send was a bit of a challenge just because of volume of people, so there were times I didn't hear from her for a bit, which was a bit worrying, especially after she told me it was boiling hot and the water queues were an hour long. I don't know how similar it is to Reading though other than obviously the music!

@SW16 That drink bottle things some kind of safety law. My relatives head of security somewhere famous and some bottles aren’t allowed in.

I think it’s an explosive device thing. Molotov or something.

'Deluded groupie'.. yes that does explain one of my earlier trips to gigs. Amazingly I got away from that one with my virtue intact! Mostly I suspect because the male involved was so shit faced he wasn't capable of any further action.

No I am not going to name and shame anyone or any time or any place. Partially because nothing actually happened and partially because even here on an anonymous forum stuff gets out and gets garbled and gets out onto the Big Bad Interweb.

My DCs school do an assembly/PHSE session for the Y11s on Festivals (meaning Reading) and they have a couple of grown ups coming and discussing things like drugs and wellbeing, but after that they have a closed session with 6th formers giving advice to the Y11s without teachers there. There is a short list of points of advice from the 6th formers which are circulated and also sent to parents. Interestingly the advice from the 6th formers feels spot on - focuses on sticking together, friends don’t let friends down, never leave a man down, speak up and get advice any time you have a concern. The interesting point was that random sex was very low on the agenda - no privacy and everyone very dirty! The point seemed to be make it a communal experience and its fun. I think the school do this v well and v realistically/appropriately.

That sounds really sensible, would love some real life stuff at schools more often.

MrsTP nothing like a teen to put you in your place I suspect your tales are pretty cool though

Minnie - wise words I've learnt never to give my lot any ammunition .... certainly wouldn't post on here about any vaguely well known types (or hugely famous types !)