Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not letting my 17yo go out for NYE?

205 replies

Icelandiaa · 31/12/2021 17:47

He wants to go to his mates. But we don't drive so can't pick him up.

He said he will be home about 1am. But I don't want him out at 1am.

I doubt there will be taxis available and he's definitely not walking home.

He's 17 though (just turned days ago)

AIBU to not let him?

OP posts:
OwlinaTree · 31/12/2021 17:48

Is it possible for him to stop over at the mates house if the getting home is the issue?

Original poster
Icelandiaa · 31/12/2021 17:50

@OwlinaTree

Is it possible for him to stop over at the mates house if the getting home is the issue?
Quite a few mates are going so I don't think so, his other friends are walking home (it's about 4 miles!)
OP posts:
19lottie82 · 31/12/2021 17:50

YABU he’s old enough to father a child and / or join the army.

Unless there’s a massive backstory you’re not telling us, let the lad go to the party!

WorraLiberty · 31/12/2021 17:50

Why do you doubt there'll be taxis available?

He's 17 for goodness sake, how long do you think you can get away with doing this to him?

Dodgyveneers · 31/12/2021 17:50

He can stay out or pre book a taxi surely?

Dodgyveneers · 31/12/2021 17:50

Very controlling I think.

GnomeyGnome · 31/12/2021 17:51

You are not unreasonable to worry, you are unreasonable to stop him. He'll be an adult next year, time to let him start making decisions.

NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy · 31/12/2021 17:51

Arrange a lift home from another parent?

Honestly OP I'd do everything I could to accommodate his request, it's NYE, he's 17, and he's being so reasonable to say he'll be home by 1am.

oldestmumaintheworld · 31/12/2021 17:52

He's 17 not 7. He is a young man who will be able to do whatever he likes in just a year's time. He needs to practice being a grown up and you need to let him

user313213521 · 31/12/2021 17:52

YABU

This time next year they'll all be down the pub, legally.

redastherose · 31/12/2021 17:52

Perfectly reasonable that he wants to go to his mates house. If he can crash their and the parents don't mind that's the best option. Otherwise I can't see what he can't walk home unless you live down unlit country roads.

HirplesWithHaggis · 31/12/2021 17:52

Why is he definitely not walking home if it's only four miles, with his pals, and with very mild weather?

19lottie82 · 31/12/2021 17:52

Can he not have a friend to stay over at yours so they can walk back together?
Seems pointless to be back at 1am tho if a four mile walk, he’d have to leave before the bells!

SantaHat · 31/12/2021 17:52

He’s old enough to leave home, he’s old enough to celebrate the near year and get a taxi home ffs unless there’s an enormous drip feed coming…

Puremule · 31/12/2021 17:53

Let him go.

Notimeforaname · 31/12/2021 17:53

He's 17. And it's New Years Eve. Christ.

VimFuego101 · 31/12/2021 17:53

I wouldn't be worried if he's walking back as a group with other friends.

Notimeforaname · 31/12/2021 17:53

Let him go

Parky04 · 31/12/2021 17:54

YABVU. I would just go anyway if I was him. He will be so embarrassed and his mates will take the piss! I went to Ibiza with my mates when I was 15.

Sirzy · 31/12/2021 17:54

He is old enough to either walk home or book himself a taxi surely?

Although if he is walking home 4 miles I wouldn’t expect him in for 1 on NYE

RedCandyApple · 31/12/2021 17:54

Wow I lived alone at 16

HalfwomanHalfcookie · 31/12/2021 17:54

Four miles isn't really a long walk for a 17 year old. If he's walking home with friends I can't see the problem.

ThesecondLEM · 31/12/2021 17:54

Has he said how he is going to get home? Booked a taxi? A friend? If he has solid plans to get home I'd let him go.

sadpapercourtesan · 31/12/2021 17:55

What?! He's a man ffs. Of course he wants to go out on NYE

I'm having an argument with mine, because I don't want him to go out tonight - because he's positive for Covid, as are we all. If he wasn't, there's no way I'd be trying to control his plans (beyond insisting that he make an effort not to wake us all up when he comes in).

TheCanyon · 31/12/2021 17:55

There was at least 3 miles each between the 5 villages me and my friends lived in during our teens, we spent a lot of time walking home/each others during the night. I don't think any of our parents knew where we were staying or coming home either tbh

Let him go to his mates.