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Original poster

Daughter wants to go to Reading?????

72 replies

user1492624207 · 19/04/2017 19:23

Hello,

My 16 year old daughter is currently doing her GCSE's and will be going to Reading festival in the summer- Ex husband bought her the ticket as a birthday gift Hmm - and I am in two minds about her attending the festival. My son went to V fest post GCSE and had a great time, however, I think Reading is slightly different than V(?), and after reading some articles of teenagers being rushed to medical tent after "nearly overdosing", has me slightly worried.

She is a very sensible girl and has a nice group of friends going with her, she told me not to worry and that she wont even be allowed to buy alcohol or anything like that at the festival as they're under 18; I am not all too fooled by that though,as I know my son still managed to get pretty wasted and god knows what else at V, down to friends who had managed to smuggle some in.

Her father will be lending her a tent and she is in a good campsite, we -as a family- have been camping plenty of times before and I shall be making sure that she has had a good chat with me beforehand and is well equipped. I still have various worries and wondered if anyone could share any experiences of their own and any tips you have.

This may sound very overprotective but I am only looking out for my daughter... Any advice would be much appreciated!!

Thanks Confused Hmm Shock Smile

OP posts:
exWifebeginsat40 · 19/04/2017 20:13

oh yeah, don't plan on doing anything for a couple of days afterwards. it's hard work standing, walking and dancing for 3 or 4 days with no warm bed at the end of the day.

seriously though - hats. your hair goes to shit after 10 minutes on site and it will rain. dry shampoo won't fix Tent Hair. with a hat, you are invincible.

specialsubject · 19/04/2017 20:19

OK, I'll bite as an old square. If drugs rules are no powders and no pills, what do you buy - ready loaded syringes??

Popsicle434544 · 19/04/2017 20:26

I let my daughter go post gcses,2 yrs ago, very sensible girl, totally trusted her, she loves music.
2nd night she was rushed to hospital after having taken mdma and huge intake of alcohol.
Thankfully she was ok.
She said their was huge amount of drugs bring pushed onto teen for pittance and all her friends were able to buy alcohol with no id.
Hugly regret letting her go.
This was just our experienve though.

writingsonthewall · 19/04/2017 20:28

I can't wait until my children are old enough, I'd go too! Love a good festival. I could watch from afar undercover.Grin

Popsicle434544 · 19/04/2017 20:28

Pls excuse my spelling Grin

ohtheholidays · 19/04/2017 20:34

Another one that lives in Reading(have all my life)honestly she'll be fine I've known people that have helped out in the past and they were all parents themselves and they all kept a special eye out for the young teens.

All of the local shops and supermarkets were really good as well about insisting on I.D to buy anything that you needed to be 16/18 or over to buy even years ago when places in general weren't as strict.

Most of us locals are very friendly as well so if your DD and her friends go into the town and want to find somewhere cheap to eat,want to know about the busses ect tell them to just ask,were all used to having the festival here every year now.

Limitededition7inch · 19/04/2017 20:34

I first went to Leeds at 16. It's pretty par for the course. Just reinforce being sensible and what to do in case of an emergency. Get her a spare battery for her mobile phone and a good portable charger.

In a fit of midlife crisis some friends and we booked a day ticket and we are going to Leeds as a group of 30-something year olds this year. Fully expecting to be totally out of place amongst all the 16 and 17 year olds!

NotReallyMeToday · 19/04/2017 20:36

I went to Reading Festival at 16. I lived in the area and we all went. Nothing awful happened except the trauma of having to use those toilets.

Ontheboardwalk · 19/04/2017 20:39

I was at Leeds when there was the 'riot' many, many years ago. Reading always felt quieter and calmer in my opinion.

The one rule your daughter should have is stick with her friends if one of them starts feeling ropey. Also as other people have said, agree somewhere to meet, especially after the main acts so they can all stagger back together - and there will be some staggering.

Pack her some bin bags, toilet roll, plenty of wet wipes and something to wee in at 5 am and she'll be fine.

exWifebeginsat40 · 19/04/2017 20:40

no powders no pills - means if you must buy drugs, stick to weed. there will be a lot of everything else on offer - dealers send people to festivals to make fortunes. they might offer a line or 2 for free, or offer to tick you for some MDMA or amphet - this way disaster lies as what you end up with will be nothing like you might have just tried, and who are you going to complain to?! i don't know if ketamine is still rife but that and nitrous were the drugs of choice last time i was at a festival.

so, yeah. don't do drugs, kids.

GingerKitCat · 19/04/2017 21:05

I steward at Reading every year. Exwife has it spot on. Welfare and medical facilities are just outside one of the arena entrances in the yellow 'village'. There are Oxfam stewards and security all over the arena plus campsite stewards (with their campsite hub/ info point) in every campsite. Tell her not to be afraid to approach them if she has any issues.

specialsubject · 19/04/2017 21:51

Live and learn. Nice harmless psycho baccy, that's OK...Hmm

Thanks for enlightenment !

exWifebeginsat40 · 19/04/2017 22:23

i mean, i'm not saying everyone has to do drugs. that would be ridiculous. just advice and damage limitation. it's pointless to assume nobody will do anything that might be dodgy. sunshine, beer and just being-at-a-festival can turn the smartest of heads in the heat of the moment.

anyway, to repeat: don't do drugs.

kali110 · 19/04/2017 22:49

I webnt and i never and was fine! She'll have a great time!

kali110 · 19/04/2017 22:50

How about getting her to send a text whilst she's there to let you know she's ok?

keeplooking · 19/04/2017 22:56

this weekend during a friends dinner (they all have teens the same age), some of the mums were acting like I was out of my mind letting her go which kind of shocked me..

They may have teens the same age, but do they have any older ? That's sometimes the crucial point. The first born are always the main boundary pushers and guinea pigs! If they survive things, you're more inclined to let the subsequent ones loose!

user1471511198 · 19/04/2017 23:01

I've been to numerous festivals over the years and my main advice is a Potette (and potette bags). I couldn't stand the campsite toilets anywhere.

fourquenelles · 19/04/2017 23:02

I've volunteered on the beer tents at Reading in the past and the rules on under aged drinking are incredibly well policed. There are secret shoppers and police inspections at random. As a server I could be fined if i seved someone under 18. Also the under 25 rule applies and young looking legal drinkers can get a wristband to show their age. Doesn't stop beer etc being bought off site though.

DorisMcSweeney · 19/04/2017 23:04

I went to Reading festival when I was 16. Nothing bad happened. Well apart from vomiting all over my tent on the first night. And getting so battered on weed the second day that I missed all the bands. And having a threesome with couple of hippies. Actually that wasn't a bad thing.

I'm sure your daughter will be fine

twattymctwatterson · 19/04/2017 23:36

Is there a reason you are treating your daughter so differently to the way you treated your son at the same age?

Robstersgirl · 19/04/2017 23:46

My 8yo DD loved Reading last year!

GuiltyPleasure · 20/04/2017 00:38

For the kids where I live Leeds fest (sister of Reading) is a rite of passage post GCSE ( we live within hearing distance). They all do it. In honesty DD & her friends & wider social circle did exactly what they would do at any party. The ones who always get drunk got drunk, the ones who take drugs took drugs, the ones who just like to listen to music & dance did just that. They all came home fine, if incredibly dirty & smelly.

user1492528619 · 20/04/2017 00:43

I went to its sister Leeds at just turned seventeen. If she's responsible and going with a good group she will be absolutely fine and have the best week of her life with lots of lasting memories.

Let her go x

MusicToMyEars800 · 20/04/2017 00:49

I live in Reading and I think she will be fine, the festival attracts lots of teens, there's more security and stewards these days, also the festival is based quite near the town centre and train station. It is in the middle of summer so as long as she is packed up on sunscreen etc, she will be fine, most of the visitors for the festival spend a lot of the time in town admiring our shops etc Grin
Crankycunt we may know each other Grin

MusicToMyEars800 · 20/04/2017 00:52

Another one that lives in Reading(have all my life)
me too ohtheholidays Grin

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