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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DS (11) invited to his friend's for a sleepover, only now do I discover they are sleeping in a tent in the garden.

42 replies

ParanoidandAnxious · 23/07/2013 21:46

AIBU to think that I won't be able to sleep tonight? I was even thinking of making an excuse to go and pick him up!!!

Outdoor sleeping was not mentioned. There will not be an adult with them. There are about 5 boys all similar age. I know the parents as acquaintances but DS has been friends with their DS for 6 years. They are nice people. The boys have just finished Yr 6.

I mean, I know it should be fine but there is a reason we all lock our doors at night when we go to bed!

I would have liked to have known in advance. Am I overreacting?

Disclaimer (Have no problem with DCs sleeping outside as long as there s an adult out there with them)

OP posts:
Annunziata · 23/07/2013 21:48

Yes, you are overreacting. They probably won't lock the back door and will do a check every now and again.

FutTheShuckUp · 23/07/2013 21:48

They will be fine- YABU

Turniptwirl · 23/07/2013 21:50

Yes you are overreacting they will be fine, scare each other silly and eat junk til they feel sick yes but FINE

milkysmum · 23/07/2013 21:50

I know it depends on the individual children but I would have imagined 11 was old enough to have camp in a garden. What is it to are worried about exactly?

ImNotBloody14 · 23/07/2013 21:50

yep- over reaction on your part. relax- they'll be fine and if it were happening at my house I would be sleeping in the back room with the windows open and probably not until I knew they had conked out. back door would be left open too.

Original poster
ParanoidandAnxious · 23/07/2013 21:50

OK, just thought I'd check!

Always think of that little girl abducted from a tent a long while back, but then again my brain is constantly in 'disaster' mode unfortunately.

OP posts:
harrietlichman · 23/07/2013 21:52

YABU, seriously. I know it's scary, as a parent, but honestly, I spent every summer sleeping in tents in back gardens from aged about 9 upwards...thought now DS1 (aged 8) keeps mentioning it I keep putting it off...so I do know how you feel.
It's such fun though, and really, what kind of maniac paedophile is going to steal a child within a group of kids in a locked backed garden with parents listening from an open window? Very unlikely!

HooverFairy · 23/07/2013 21:53

YABU but I'd be exactly the same. They'll probably end up sleeping in the house anyway, try not to worry.

Scruffey · 23/07/2013 21:54

Yanbu. You should have been told in advance.

Presume that they are in a back garden with a locked gate so no access from street? If not, I'd collect him.

BiscuitDunker · 23/07/2013 21:55

Why does it matter? What do you think is going to happen if there's no adult out in the garden with them exactly?! If they start messing about or making a lot of noise I'm sure the parents will go out and tell them to pack it in just like I'm sure they will be keeping the back door unlocked so they can go indoors if they want to use the toilet or get scared for some reason.

YABU,and far too paranoid/over protective. Your little boy is growing up and camping the back garden with a group of friends,its hardly the woods in the middle of nowhere!

Whothefuckfarted · 23/07/2013 21:55

They probably won't sleep at all! Haha!

YABU.

Quangle · 23/07/2013 21:55

paranoid I remember that little girl too. It was my first thought tbh. I know it's extreme but it's hard to put those stories out of your head when they are in there...It was a long time ago now so possibly most people don't remember it which, in itself is no bad thing because it was such an extreme and random event, but if you do remember it, it's a bit haunting.

pictish · 23/07/2013 21:56

Yabu. Unfret at once.

Caster8 · 23/07/2013 21:56

I know how you feel op! A bit unsettled, when things are not quite what you were expecting.
But in this instance, there are 5 of them, so I suspect they will have a great time.

Clawdy · 23/07/2013 21:57

One thing's for sure,if you do collect him,he'll never forgive you!

Justforlaughs · 23/07/2013 21:58

YANBU, you should have known in advance, and for what it's worth, when my "very sensible and trustworthy" 11 yo had a sleepover in the garden of a "very sensible and trustworthy friend" with a group of 11 yo's, they were running round the streets at 2am and they were locked out, with NO access to a toilet etc. They then got kicked out of the garden at 5am because they were making a noise, and were left with no way of getting home except to walk. Rind the parents and check what the arrangements are and DON'T assume anything as I did Blush

cricketballs · 23/07/2013 21:58

Scruffey - what do you really expect to happen to 5 11 year old lads when there are adults 6 feet away? They are going to me up chatting till the small hours, try to sleep then go in the house as its cold/boring etc

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 23/07/2013 21:58

Have they never been on cub or scout camps? I would have thought a back garden was safer than a campsite or a field? I would have no problem with it.

NoComet · 23/07/2013 22:00

DD(12) was in a tent at her friends the other night.
I was slightly surprised her friends mum didn't ask as she is the mum who always rings and double checks everything. DDs other Y7 mates just text between themselves.

I'm not worried the DDs have camped in our garden plenty of times.

sooperdooper · 23/07/2013 22:04

I think you're overreacting, at 11 with a group of them I think they'll be absolutely fine

steppemum · 23/07/2013 22:04

he is 11, there are a group of them. They will be fine. Quite normal thing fir a bunch of 11 year olds

cory · 23/07/2013 22:25

Abducting a great big 11yo from a tent which contains 4 of his mates, without anybody raising the alarm, sounds like hard work to me.

Bowlersarm · 23/07/2013 22:29

I understand OP I am terrible at letting go.

He will be absolutely fine though.

Kithulu · 23/07/2013 22:29

Oh darn. I had never heard of the little girl getting abducted, I was out of the country at that time. I googled it. Now I know. Sad

But 5 11yr old boys.....I think they will have a great time.

exoticfruits · 23/07/2013 22:36

Mine always slept in the garden in a tent at that age. They had a key to the back door if they wanted to get in. The mind boggles that someone could crawl into a tent and manage to get hold of an 11yr old- drag them backwards until they could stand up and then pick them up and carry them off without waking any of them!