Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

To book a table for four 15 yo boys to eat without parental supervision?

50 replies

shrimponastick · 06/01/2013 17:00

DS is 15 today. He wanted to go for a meal with his mates. He didn't want me or SF to go with them. Another of his friends did similar a year or so ago.

I plan to drive them down there, give them cash for the bill, pick them up after and drive home.

All are (relatively) intelligent and sensible boys.

I told a family member who expressed surprise that we weren't eating with them?

If I am BU, then at what age is it acceptable?

OP posts:

mysteryfairy · 06/01/2013 17:41

How bizarre! Does your son not go to places with his mates all the time anyway? I will pay for a group of friends on a birthday but my teenagers are always off out to places with their friends when school shuts early or after an afternoon at the skate park etc

AGiddyKipperInOneHand · 06/01/2013 17:49

YANBU and preferable to the alternative which would be to go out while they order pizza at your place!

amillionyears · 06/01/2013 17:52

I would be surprised if you had posted he did want to eat with you.

MummytoKatie · 06/01/2013 18:09

Seems fine to me. Pretty sure I was doing that at 14.

Doinmummy · 06/01/2013 18:38

I'm surprised they don't do it anyway. My DD 14 and her mates are always in Nando's or the local carvery.

JellicleCat · 06/01/2013 19:09

My DD did this for her 15th with 3 friends. I just turned upto pay the bill.

I'm sure they will be fine.

Mrsrudolphduvall · 06/01/2013 19:25

I did for dd's 12th.
All fine.

lljkk · 06/01/2013 19:32

DS (13) took a 12yo friend out for lunch the other day. What would the problem be?

exoticfruits · 06/01/2013 19:41

I did it when DS was 12yrs-perfectly fine!

exoticfruits · 06/01/2013 19:42

The family member can't have older DCs or she would know that 15yr olds don't want a meal with friends and mother!

jamdonut · 06/01/2013 19:44

My daughter is having a 16th birthday dinner for about 12 people at a Sizzlers. They insisted that an adult had to be on site (not necessarily sitting with them),when I booked, although the same group of friends all went to a Chinese restaurant for another friend's 16th birthday a couple of weeks before Christmas, and did not need an adult then!
So DH and DS2 and I will be having a meal elsewhere on the premises, just so that an adult is available!

Original poster

shrimponastick · 06/01/2013 22:10

Update:

All went to plan. They were in there for just over 2 hours. Ate lots, and drank tap water rather than cokes/lemonades in order that they could spend more on starters ha ha ha.

However, DS left a way too generous tip. The bill came to £39 - he only had notes, and said if he had left just a £1 tip he would have felt tight. So he lgave them £50 and said to keep the change. Ah well, it's a learning experience (with my money :) )

OP posts:

cinnamonnut · 06/01/2013 22:12

YANBU, did that with my friends. At most they'll be a bit loud.

cinnamonnut · 06/01/2013 22:13

Oops didn't see that

£11 tip! American style! Lucky waiter/waitress.

We always ordered jugs of tap water

WilsonFrickett · 06/01/2013 22:18

On the very rare occasions I eat in a Nandos or similar I really enjoy watching tables of teens eating by themselves and being all grown up. Cant believe I'm admitting that on mn But I do really like people watching.

Arf at the tip though. He'll learn.

clam · 06/01/2013 22:18

Apparently our local Harvesters won't allow groups of unaccompanied teenagers eat there. There's been some 'antisocial behaviour' I believe. It's a pain though, because last time ds asked to do it, it meant that dh and I had to suffer go and eat there (at another table behind a pillar) to ostensibly supervise them.

maddening · 06/01/2013 22:22

We went out for meals at that age without our parents booking it.

We also took it in turns to have each other round to dinner that we cooked ourselves - take a course each and the parents would go out for the evening.

custardismyhamster · 06/01/2013 22:36

Cant believe the poster who said she had to supervise her 16 year old and friends (well no i believe the poster, can't believe the place insisted on it though ) poor daughter and friends could have just as easily been on a meal from work at 16, surely the place wouldnt make her bring her parents then?

Good on you for going there but leaving them to it, bet it turned out you werent needed.

TheOriginalNutcracker · 06/01/2013 22:38

YNBU

Dd1 and her mates do this all the time, and have done since they were 13ish.

BellaVita · 06/01/2013 22:47

Yanbu.

My 13 year old DS2 went out to a restaurant (bistro) with three friends a few weeks back.

clam · 06/01/2013 22:51

They weren't 16. This was a couple of years ago, so 14. But I gather they'd had problems with other, larger groups.
My ds and his friends were model diners! Said please and thank you and everything!

OkayHazel · 07/01/2013 02:49

Pretty sure the relative was asking in a 'Oh, its his birthday, why isn't everyone going out to celebrate' way, rather than in a 'who's looking after the teenagers' way.

GrimmaTheNome · 07/01/2013 08:18

I bet after that tip the restaurant will be happy to have groups of teens again! Bless. Provide him with £5 note and 5x£1 coins not just larger notes next time you're paying.

littlewhitebag · 07/01/2013 09:43

My DD do this all the time and have done since they were 12 or 13 . No idea what the problems would be. It is good to teach them independence (and how much of a tip is reasonable to leave!!)

jamdonut · 08/01/2013 18:44

clam Its tomorrow, but I know I won't be needed, they are all very sensible! Still..I get to have a meal out with the DH on a work night, so that's nice!!

Flip

1 2