To mither about teenage DS going for walks ...

[UsedtobeFeckless]

We live in the middle of nowhere. He says he's going to blow off some steam and disappears. He's 17 ... Is this normal? He doesn't smell of smoke, he's not meeting anyone, he seems quite himself when he comes back ... Thoughts?

I did this as a teenager. If everything else seems fine I wouldn't worry too much.

I used to do this as a teen and I often still do. At that age with no obvious problems you're best to let him just do his thing.

What are you concerned about? He's 17, walking should be fairly safe...I live rurally and DD has walked to friends/with friends since she went to senior school. Case of having to, with buses etc (even for school).

My DS used to do this quite often in his late teens. Said it helped him to clear his head.

I go for a walk to blow off steam sometimes, don't see why it would be different for a 17 year old.

I'm confused.

Is there a back story that makes sense of this?

Do you have reason to believe he's not simply going for a walk?

I've always walked, rambled and wandered around wherever I've lived. I did it with my Dad when is was a kid, and explored locally on my own from about 15. It was, and still is, something in did because I love it, and because it helps process my thoughts. That's incredibly important to me now at 40, but was never more so than when I was a teenager. It also taught me hill sense and a strong sense of navigation and self-sufficiency. He sounds like a great lad.

Done this the other night. To just think about nothing. It's s good head clearer

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I often use to go for a walk as a teenager to be on my own, still do it as an adult. I find it relaxing

@ Worra He just came back from a school trip and went off up a pitch black track for half an hour. Part of me thinks fine and part of me panics. I just wanted to see if other people / other peoples teenagers did anything similar.

Sounds normal to me. He probably needs a bit of space.

Always considered this to be a pretty normal. I went out the other night, down to the shop, took the long way home, just for some fresh air, to clear my head.

Do you have any reason to think he's doing anything other than just walking?

Hmmm. I have a suspicious mind. How do you know he's not meeting someone?

He might be meeting someone. It's not illegal.

Get him a dog to take

My DD used to this. All nice and wholesome I thought. She used to go down the woods with her mate for a spliff. Only realised when I found weed in her room.

That depends on who he's meeting and why majestic!

@ Jenny Shouldn't think so, unless they were hanging about in the middle of a field in the dark on the off chance of a 10 minute tryst with a passing Goth. He's using my phone at the moment as his charger has gone AWOL. He's back now and I'm feeling a bit stupid ...

I don't think it's weed - DP used to smoke a fair bit and can spot a wiff of spliff a mile away ...

I always went off for walks or bike rides when I was a teenager. Nothing sinister. Just wanted to be alone with my thoughts and my headphones, especially when revising for exams.

He just likes a bit of space to have a think. If it's a safe area he will be fine.

I would have loved to have happened upon a wandering Goth when I was 17.

I used to frequently pop the dog on the lead and take off for hours when I was a teen and I still do it now when I need to clear my head.

He's going for a walk, leave him be.