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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let ds1 (12) camp in garden with his friend (Also 12)

61 replies

BuntCadger · 03/08/2012 22:55

Dh is sleeping in lounge and back door unlocked. Tent is literally outside the door on the decking. Backgate is locked. Garden is overlooked by horseshoe of neighbours and it is enclosed by houses.

I just seen the other thread with 5 year old and now im shitting myself concerned I may have made stupid mistake.

They are still awake and absolutely having a riot with midnight feasts, torches and psp's and gadgetry.

I'm trying to hold back from coaxing them back in the house to sleep. Dh says they'll be fine and to leave them to it. They both have their bears for cuddling protection.

Ds2 (4) pretend camped and had hot chocolate and story in tent then fell asleep in my bed in sleeping bag.

OP posts:
SparklingGoldMedals · 03/08/2012 23:39

Night-we will need an update in the morning. Wink

Original poster
BuntCadger · 03/08/2012 23:44

Goodnight Smile

OP posts:
Dancergirl · 04/08/2012 00:10

Sorry to play devils advocate but I also read the other thread.

If you're worried about a child being abducted, the age is irrelevant. Someone could take a sleeping 12 year old couldnt they.......?

usualsuspect · 04/08/2012 00:11

I wouldn't give a second thought to two 12 year olds sleeping in the garden.

SparklingGoldMedals · 04/08/2012 00:12

I have a 13 year old DS. You would struggle to lift him out of a tent while he slept. Having first broken into the garden.

Original poster
BuntCadger · 04/08/2012 00:17

dancer I can't lift him and dh Woukd struggle. They are big boys, ds prop
In rugby.

OP posts:
smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 04/08/2012 00:18

So glad I saw this thread, DSD (13yrs) and DSS (9yrs) have been pestering us about letting them sleep in a tent in the garden, I finally gave in and said it was fine for them to do it when they are up next week then saw the other thread about the 5yr old and wondered if I should actually let them. DP works nights so it will just be me home.

We are an end of terrace on a main road and our back garden has a high wall all the way around it, next door's garden wraps right around ours with another wall and they have a scary guard dog, high conifer trees their side of our wall so nobody can see into our garden. my bedroom is at the back of the house overlooking the garden and I always sleep with the window open so would hear them if they needed me plus the dog would probably want to sleep with them.

The 5yr old threads made me paranoid

Peeenut · 04/08/2012 00:18

I've had no problem with my 11 yr old sleeping out with his friends this summer. We have locked gates and a 6 foot high fence, he's only 2 inches smaller than me.

My 7 yr old slept in a single man tent, in the grden, for the first time this summer but I was in a single opposite. Other summer garden camps I've been in a 2 berth tent with him. He tried to persuade me he'd be fine on his own one night but I said no. There's a huge difference between 5 and 12.

Original poster
BuntCadger · 04/08/2012 00:36

All is quiet but clouds rolling in. Big 6am sleeper tho do fingers x they'll keep dry. I think I can now sleep as they are

OP posts:
Original poster
BuntCadger · 04/08/2012 09:10

Rain arrived at 5am and woke them and they were "worm wrestling" by 5.30. I slept till 8 Grin! They are walking to shop now to get their croissant/pain de chocolat

They've already asked to do it again. Great thing about it being on decking is no mud!

OP posts:
SparklingGoldMedals · 04/08/2012 09:29

That's great. Grin What are their plans for today? My 13 year old DS is still snoring away.....

SynchronisedSquirrels · 04/08/2012 09:36

I remember when my two boys did this (aged 9 and 11).
We had the extended giggling, popping in to the loo, midnight feast, and then, still wide awake at 2am they crawled into the house, up to their beds and slept in comfort.

EcoLady · 04/08/2012 10:09

Sounds like they had a brilliant time Smile

I've had four 11yo girls camping in the garden and my 11 and 8 yo too.

valiumredhead · 04/08/2012 10:17

Ds has been camping out in the garden since he was about 7 or 8 (can't quite remember) not sure how you have managed not to do it by 12!

Original poster
BuntCadger · 04/08/2012 10:23

Because he didn't want to valium. Our garden was also swamp like. Is that ok? Smile

OP posts:
SparklingGoldMedals · 04/08/2012 10:25

Ds1 is 13 and has never done it. We have the tent but he's never asked.

Original poster
BuntCadger · 04/08/2012 10:27

doark they are playing cards in tent and later going to wildlife sanctuary park

OP posts:
CecilyP · 04/08/2012 11:30

They are bloody loud neighbours will hate me. I won't get much sleep with baby and ds2 anyway. I'll be sending ds2 out to wake them at 7ish

Funny you should say that. I was really nervous about letting DS (10) camp at his schoolfriends not long after the little girl was abducted in Wales. I needn't have worried, there was a whole group of them and they had so much fun and were so loud that the neighbours complained to the police.

Original poster
BuntCadger · 04/08/2012 12:31

cecilyp Grin no police called and neighbours didn't hear them apparantly...

They loved it so much they are camping again tonight

OP posts:
FartyMcTarty · 04/08/2012 12:34

There's a world of difference between this thread and the other. Of course YANBU.

valiumredhead · 04/08/2012 13:58

Our garden was also swamp like. Is that ok? Why the sarcasm?

Original poster
BuntCadger · 04/08/2012 19:42

valium because I thought you were being sarcastic I your post. My apologies.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 04/08/2012 19:43

No, I really wasn't, perhaps I should've added a smiley, I was smiling when I posted it. Hard when you can't see the other person.

SparklingGoldMedals · 04/08/2012 19:43

So is it the same again tonight Bunt? Are they varying anything? I think a camping stove for breakfast would be a good addition. Grin

Original poster
BuntCadger · 04/08/2012 19:48

Sorry vallium Blush (tis my red head stroppiness Wink)

OP posts: