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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to worry about a 16 year old going to the Reading festival?

34 replies

Ifnotdufferswontdrown · 14/03/2019 16:11

DS1 wants to go to the Reading festival after GCSE results, DH says he can't go, I think we probably should let him but still quite nervous... Should we say yes and if so how do I (we) persuade DH? He (DS) is very sensible but will only just be 16.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ifnotdufferswontdrown · 14/03/2019 16:17

(As you'll see from my username, I do tend to let them have a go at things so DH does see himself as having to be a voice of caution!)

OP posts:
Alsohuman · 14/03/2019 16:18

Depends on how far away from home Reading is, who he's going with, how he's getting there, whether he's been away with friends before. Can you say a bit more?

fanfan18 · 14/03/2019 16:21

I probably wouldn't let him go until he was a bit older but thats only because I have been to reading fest a few times and know what I got up to there!

AirBiscuit · 14/03/2019 16:24

My DD went to Reading after GCSEs. Nothing too bad happened. Although we do have a lovely grandchild now

ApproachWithWine · 14/03/2019 16:27

I live in Reading and went to the festival a lot. Not for the last 10 years though because the line ups have been crap and it's not Reading Rock as it used to be. It's just full of the great unwashed teeny boppers now. There are a lot of pills there (I have friends that work it (security) every year and they said it's shocked them). If he's sensible and anti drugs he'll be fine.

Beebee8 · 14/03/2019 16:28

I went to reading after my GCSEs.. still one of the best weekends of my life! But that was 14 years ago so not sure how it might have changed. I guess it's down to how responsible/independent he is!

GarthFunkel · 14/03/2019 16:30

I went at 15-16, but I lived in Reading Grin

anniehm · 14/03/2019 16:31

Apparently it's mostly teens now, dd is going with most of her school year (I kid you not) it's a right of passage. I'm worried but it's preferable to going overseas

teenagetantrums · 14/03/2019 16:31

My DD went at 16. She had a great time. We live in London so easy to get to. Depends on your child. Mine was quite grown up by 16. She'd been out and about in London quite a bit was used to looking after herself. Obviously they drank but mainly just enjoyed the music and staying up all night. Only you know your child and his friends.

superram · 14/03/2019 16:31

Every year 11 in my school goes after gcse results day. We only live about an hour away so parents could collect if all goes wrong.

Squ1ggle · 14/03/2019 16:32

I went to Leeds festival when I was 17 and 18 so a year older but I was with a great group of friends. We were all relatively sensible and looked out for each other, we never had any trouble. It would depend on the maturity of the individual and who they were going with I think

teenagetantrums · 14/03/2019 16:32

Oh and she's 23 now and would not be seen dead at reading. It's just for kids apparently

ApproachWithWine · 14/03/2019 16:34

@GarthFunkel I went from 14-30
We used to sneak under the fence down by Cow Lane Grin Can't do that now!

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 14/03/2019 16:34

I went to my first Reading with friends at sixteen. It was brilliant, if you think he's trustworthy let him go. He'll drink (if he can afford to the beer is super expensive), he'll dance, he'll have an amazing time.

Ribbonsonabox · 14/03/2019 16:35

Leeds and reading are where everyone goes after GCSEs! That's been the case for a decade! I went to Leeds fest after my GCSEs... I got a bit drunk yes but that was the limit of it. A happy memory!
I would let him go. Those things are very heavily policed. Of course tragedies sometimes happen but that's the same as absolutely anywhere else he might go.

StillMedusa · 14/03/2019 16:36

My Dd1 went at 16..and 17, 18 and 19 :)
OK she came home with swine flue and frighteningly ill the first time, but that was just bad luck... the other times she was fine and her younger siblings have all been at 16 since.

It is a young persons festival, and as long as they stick together they will be fine. Grim, disgusting (make him strip on the door step Grin )but ok. Baby wipes are essential, and if possible a mega cheap brick phone for emergencies!

OKBobble · 14/03/2019 16:36

My DS and about 25 of his friends went last year after his gcses (Apparently it was the best weekend ever!) He is going this year too. We live in Cambridge and the Big Green Coach Co run buses that go right into the Festival and back again. It was a really easy way for them to travel safely too so check to see if they go from where you live. It is apparently how 16 year old celebrate gcses nowadays.

ApproachWithWine · 14/03/2019 16:36

As you can see from this thread, it's for 16 years old kids. He'll be fine.

BlackPrism · 14/03/2019 16:39

I was one of those who went to Leeds fest after GCSE results (current DP did Reading). They will get really drunk, probably try weed and most likely some sex. It is a crazy fucking weekend. But, it's also the only music festival I've ever enjoyed - carefree, young, excited mostly by the booze.

Was a great time, I'd let him go because he's about to hit a point in his life where he grows up quickly.

OvertiredandConfused · 14/03/2019 16:40

We live close. My DD went for the first time a year after GCSEs and she camped with a group of girlfriends. However, they came home most mornings for a few hours to shower, eat and re-do their make up!

DS is now asking to go after his GCSE results and will be just 16. A few of the parents have agreed they can go but not camp this year

Realistically, as long as you are confident he will be sensible around drugs and he doesn’t take anything valuable ( even a couple of picnic chairs got nicked from my DD’s group last year!) he should be okay but I feel your pain!

TheFirstOHN · 14/03/2019 16:42

Reading / Leeds does seem to be a rite of passage for some Y11s.

For DS1 we said no at the end of Y11 (he had had long term health problems and was not fully better).

He went with a group of friends at the end of Y12 - loved it, nothing bad happened.

He went again after A-levels - all valuables stolen from tent on the first night while he was asleep, including passport, bank card, cash, phone. He coped, but would have found this hard if he'd only been 16.

He is planning to go again this year (aged 19). He doesn't care that it's full of 16 year olds; he goes for the live music.

GarthFunkel · 14/03/2019 16:44

ApproachWithWine My dad worked on Richmond Ave, I used to collect his car keys and drive home for a shower Grin

TheFirstOHN · 14/03/2019 16:45

Correction: it was his provisional driving licence that got stolen, thankfully he took that for 18+ ID rather than his passport.

KingscoteStaff · 14/03/2019 16:46

DS went last year after GCSEs with a big group of friends and loved it. They came back on the Sunday morning though, as it was forecast to pour.

If you search for Reading last year, there were lots of threads full of top tips.

ApproachWithWine · 14/03/2019 16:46

Grin We all lived around the Oxford Rd so we used to do the same.