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Original poster

Are your teenagers still meeting up with their friends?

161 replies

Rollergirl11 · 10/01/2021 16:10

I know that you can meet one person from another household for exercise but it is apparent that a lot of DD’s friends are just taking that as an opportunity to meet up with each other. Then meet up with someone else new the next day. I see that as completely bending the rules and is just unnecessary mixing of multiple households. Luckily DD doesn’t agree with it and hasn’t asked to do the same. Obviously lots of parents are allowing this (DD’s friends parents that I know included) so please can someone who thinks this is okay explain their reasoning?

OP posts:
mrscampbellblackagain · 10/01/2021 17:45

Well I drove past a large park this week and the skate park section was rammed with teens.

It was in the afternoon when they should have been at school.

iwishiwasatcentralperk · 10/01/2021 17:46

No. DD is 12 and has not met anyone since this latest lockdown started. She met her friend at the park on NY Day but did not go into her house.

I would let her go for a walk with 1 friend as per the guidelines, if she asked.

The whole point is that people are staying apart. I don't know why some people find that so hard to understand, or think that it doesn't apply to them.

mrscampbellblackagain · 10/01/2021 17:46

When I say at school, I mean doing online lessons at home.

Poppingnostopping · 10/01/2021 17:46

Yes, but not frequently, I would say about once a week each of them meets with a friend in a park between the two houses and they go for a walk for an hour or two, I think it's an excellent idea and compared with mixing in school, which they were doing til end Dec, it's incredibly safe! I am encouraging them to do this, it's not only within the rules it's desirable for them to take exercise, they also exercise with me or alone most days. They also chat on messenger/insta/whatever they use, have Zoom lunches. There was a lull in all this last year during lockdown but this time they seem motivated to both keep social and keep healthy.

MillieEpple · 10/01/2021 17:47

No. His best friend caught covid over christmas from his grandparents (ironic twist) he hasnt been that well with it so my teen has been put off meeting with any one 1 to 1 for exercise.

Lovemusic33 · 10/01/2021 17:48

I wonder how many kids are saying they are meeting one friend when in-fact they are meeting several friends? I have seen several groups of teens out and about and 14/15 year olds snogging in the park so obviously not everyone’s teenager is staying in.

We live in the middle of nowhere so mine don’t really go anywhere when there isn’t a lockdown.

Fembot123 · 10/01/2021 17:48

@RedskyAtnight I know, I have teens too. I can say I feel for one group without it meaning I don’t feel sorry for everyone else. What are we becoming 😨

Itstheprinciple · 10/01/2021 17:55

Yes DD has been walking to friend's house then taking friend's dog out for a walk. Generally the same friend but I wouldn't stop her if she wanted to do similar with a different friend on a different day.

Bagamoyo1 · 10/01/2021 17:58

DS age 15 has been meeting up with one local friend to play football, or go for a walk, and sometimes they sit on the swings in the park and chat. His other friends live a drive away, and I’m happy to drive him to meet them one at a time for similar activities, but so far he hasn’t arranged that.
Mostly it’s xbox.

PricklesAndSpikes · 10/01/2021 17:58

@highlystrung

My 14 year old has been meeting one friend to play football in the park. I thought that was allowed? Am I wrong?
It depends I think. Can they honestly say they only kick the ball to each, never get within 2 metres of each other to tackle the other and both don't handle the ball...?
DariaMorgendorffer · 10/01/2021 17:59

No, just online.

Bagamoyo1 · 10/01/2021 18:02

@highlystrung

My 14 year old has been meeting one friend to play football in the park. I thought that was allowed? Am I wrong?
Yes that’s allowed.
Bouledeneige · 10/01/2021 18:02

My DD who's 20 goes for a walk with a friend every now and again. A different one each time. I think that's fine - it's good for her physically and mentally. She also goes for longish walks with me - we both know the exercise makes a difference to how we are feeling - we get really fed up stuck indoors all day. And it uses up time - the days can be very long without it.

Pipandmum · 10/01/2021 18:03

My 15 year old hasn't left the house since Christmas. My 17 year old son takes any excuse possible - walk the dogs, get the paper, out for milk... but I have to say he has been good about meeting friends. He has seen his girlfriend three times for a walk and that's it (pretty sure they did not socially distance though).

Tomcullenisahero · 10/01/2021 18:07

My two are 14 and 16 and have only left the house to go for a walk with me. I often see my 16 yr old's friends out in a small group but thankfully he has no desire to go out. Lots of online chatting through the PlayStation.

bonbonours · 10/01/2021 18:12

No but as there's three of them they have fun going for a walk or bike ride together. If I had an only child I would be encouraging them to meet a friend for a walk occasionally. I don't see any harm in it as long as it is really one friend and they are socially distancing sensibly.

Andrew2020 · 10/01/2021 18:12

I thought you could only meet one friend outside your family, not a different friend every day?
Happy to be corrected!!

Freaksandgeeks · 10/01/2021 18:13

No. She’s 16. I asked her if she felt she was missing out, as we sometimes see groups of teens on our walks, she’s adamant that nearly all of her friends are also strictly obeying the rules. Two of her friends have boyfriends and they are being allowed by their parents to meet up with them at each other’s houses.

SnoozyLou · 10/01/2021 18:16

Their parents must be really thick then.

middleager · 10/01/2021 18:17

Mine don't.

I have two 14 year olds and they have each other for company.

Tistheseason17 · 10/01/2021 18:20

The 2 women who had been fined going for a walk had each driven 5 miles and bought a coffee.

Not in the spirit of the rules of meeting a friend locally for a walk.

I do meet a single friend and walk regularly pounding the local streets 2m apart for a natter. I can see this being great for teens who are struggling with self isolation.

But getting in a car - buying coffee and meeting up has more interactions with others so not surprised they were fined.

Feel sorry for teens.

SoupDragon · 10/01/2021 18:21

No. Mine is "meeting up" via whatever phone app they are all using and that's it.

inquietant · 10/01/2021 18:22

No, mine are zooming and phoning at the moment. I feel very fortunate that they are OK with this.

BarryGlendenning · 10/01/2021 18:24

@LadyMonicaBaddingham

No. Because they are decent human beings and understand how to follow rules. They've kept up their social lives online. Helps that we live in the arse-end of nowhere so they would need lifts to go anywhere, but they've not asked even once...
@LadyMonicaBaddingham could you explain why teenagers who go on a bike ride with a friend aren't decent human beings and how they are breaking the rules please?
BilboBercow · 10/01/2021 18:29

Typical of on here, so many people trying to set their own rules and accusing people of "bending the rules" for doing the things they're absolutely allowed to do.

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