DD (16) and her boyfriend are going to a Steampunk event. They are going dressed in 'character', no problem with that, they have attended other such events, mixed with other such young people similarly attired and had a great time.
This time it is being held in a venue outside of the city centre, with only the facilities available that belong to the venue, as its touristy, they can be quite pricey. DD has just told me they are planning on taking a picnic and flask of tea.
I jokingly suggested they took a picnic blanket as well, which she took to be a very good suggestion instead of a joke.
Where have I gone wrong with my parenting?
I feel like I've failed somehow.
They should be planning on slurping a couple of cans and eating bags of chips, while standing nonchalantly amongst these Steampunk, Gothic types, not taking a bloody flask of tea with them, like an auld biddy on a day trip.
Perhaps its my fault, but I blame places like the N.T, she must have had too much exposure when she was younger. I need to re read their 50 things to do malarky and see if it includes 'pottering around the gift shop', 'lugging a flask of tea' and 'commenting on the quality of the scones'.
So would I be unreasonable to hide all our flasks before the event?
I feel it would be a merciful action to save them from themselves, preventing them from prematurely looking for Bargain Hunt on iplayer and flicking through the Lakeland catalogue.
Is middleagedteendom the new rebellion of the youth of today? Might I be exposing them to ridicule and embarrassment, without these status symbols of revolution and youth culture? ( or flask and picnic blanket as I call it)
I'm just going to try and find Steampunk type cagoules now, in case it rains on the day, or maybe they still do those plastic headscarves my granny used to be fond of.