To think DD can't drive to Wales yet (18 and passed her test last month)?

[HaHaItsRosa]

We live in London. DD, has randomly booked this little cabin thing in Wales!? It's for tomorrow. Plans on leaving tonight and staying in a Travelodge or similar and then arriving tomorrow. This is her first ever trip away on her own... she also only drives to work. She starts uni extremely soon and "wanted a peaceful getaway before it starts". I'm a bit hmm. I know she's 18 and she can go on her own and she's obviously no longer my daughter so I shouldn't worry about her no but seriously, I'm really worried. She's a sensible girl, she really is, but Wales!!!! Tell me I'm too involved and she'll be fine.

You’re too involved and she’ll be fine. It’s Wales, not Beirut.

She'll be fine! I drove to Wales a month after I passed my test (from the Midlands) it was no problem. Maybe just stick to A roads if she hasn't been on the motorway yet.

You're too involved and she'll be fine

She'll be fine. Wales is an easy place to drive!

She'll be fine. Who is she going with anyway? I'd be more worried she's meeting someone there, especially if she has never met them before.

Why? what will happen? it's a couple of hours up the motorway. Apparently her instructor, you know the bloke qualified to assess her driving, deemed her fit to drive and she passed her test.

Whereabouts in Wales!!! Is she going?

It will be brilliant for her driving confidence. She'll be fine.

If she passed her test, then she can drive to wales. The point of a test is that it certifies her as being fit to drive on the roads. If she isn’t, she shouldn’t have passed.

thought so. Seriously I feel sick. I know it's ridiculous but she's my baby. We don't have any other children, so we are a bit over protective. Think DH will probably have a heart attack when he finds out she has booked it.

Can't imagine why she needs to go all the way to Wales. It does look beautiful, but seems a bit random!

Sounds like she's meeting someone. That's what you need worry about, not her driving, or the fact that it's Wales (seriously - Wales bothers you?!!!)

So why's she saying she's going in her own?

She'll be fine. M4 all the way, easy. Make sure she's prepared for the Severn Bridge, whether she'll pay cash or card and therefore what lane to use (symbols above the toll booths).

My DS drove to Cornwall the day after he passed his test, aged 17. You have to trust them.

so we are a bit over protective.

Oh. Well that's why she's not told you the whole story then.

Powys I believe. I've never been so jab no idea what it's like there.

She's going alone. I highly, highly doubt she's meeting anyone, maybe she is? I seriously hope that isn't the case and would be extremely surprised. She's quite a loner and enjoys drawing, so I suppose she'll enjoy the scenery and draw for a few days I wish I had longer to get my head around it.

I sound so dramatic

It's normal to be nervous for her. The experience will do her good, just make sure she has breakdown cover.

Your job is to raise an adult capable of going out into the world and being a responsible adult themselves. It sounds like you’re doing a good job so try not to worry and just let her go to Wales!

Have you never driven to Wales, OP? It’s just your comments seem to suggest you think it’s some distant ‘here be dragons’ place. I live in a very remote bit and It’s perfectly civilised and almost entirely normal and harmless. Where in Wales? If it’s the south/west she’ll be there in somewhere between 4 and 5 hours and she’s giving herself two days witha rest. She’ll be fine.

where in Wales is she going? North, Mid or South?

You CAN get to Wales without using the motorway but it takes about 8 hours longer. Trust me, I tried it, right after passing my test..:)

*have

I don't mean overprotective in the sense she can't meet people

We don't have any other children, so we are a bit over protective.

That’s why she’s going to wales by herself.

OK Powys.

Where is she driving from?

Oh god, she's never been on the motorway.

It sounds like a lovely break! I don’t see the issue. She’ll be fine.

She's maybe met someone online and is meeting them. It seems strange to go alone at 18.