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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let DS (17) catch the train to Wembley?

61 replies

Fruitflylady · 15/08/2023 16:18

…because his girlfriend’s DM wants them to be driven there. It’s an hour and a half by car, 2 hours by train. They’re being collected afterwards but I can’t fathom why two sensible 17 yr-olds can’t be allowed to find their way there in public transport.
Also, I hate driving into London.

OP posts:
KinooOrKinog · 15/08/2023 16:19

Let his girlfriends mum drive them!

teaorme · 15/08/2023 16:20

They’re 17 not 12!

YANBU, he should get the train. Honestly!

dinmin · 15/08/2023 16:21

I would have thought train is fine but how many connections, what route, does he do train travel often?

driving is a faff but it’s def not “into” London!

lastminutewednesday · 15/08/2023 16:21

Well my 17 year old is currently in Portugal on her first girls holiday with her pals.

Of course he can get the train. He's 17 not 7!!

underneaththeash · 15/08/2023 16:21

I think they’ll be fine on the train.

my 15 year old got the train there and back a few weeks ago with his mate.

VeridicalVagabond · 15/08/2023 16:22

My 15 year old traverses trains and public transport with far more ease and confidence than I do, I'm sure two 17 year olds will be able to manage.

If she's so adamant they be driven she can be the bloody chauffeur.

PuttingDownRoots · 15/08/2023 16:24

What is her reasoning? Not being able to navigate public transport would be a different reason to worrying about lots of hyped up/drunk football fans.

Clymene · 15/08/2023 16:25

If she wants them driven, she can drive them.

DinnaeFashYersel · 15/08/2023 16:26

My 15 year old and 11 year old recently travelled 4 hours on the train by themselves.

A 17 year old should surely by able to manage this. If not something has gone very wrong.

CatherinedeBourgh · 15/08/2023 16:26

If she wants to drive them, I'm sure they'll accept the ride...

Original poster
Fruitflylady · 15/08/2023 16:26

I was starting to doubt myself. DS has just returned from 2 weeks in Europe, where he travelled alone on the train cross country. I used to go in and out of London at the same age with friends. I was just starting to doubt myself.
Yes, the train journey for them is a faff; two changes and a bit of walking, but it’s the summer, it’s light, it’s the middle of the afternoon. I don’t get it.

OP posts:
madeinmanc · 15/08/2023 16:29

The Wembley area can be pretty dodgy, perhaps that's why? Not saying I agree, though.

UghStopSnoring · 15/08/2023 16:33

Goodness. I was taking the train from York to London to see friends when I was 15. Course he can do it.

Hollyppp · 15/08/2023 16:36

17?!!!?! At 17 I was in Greece with friends. At Glastonbury. Went to Newquay for a week with no adult supervision.

first caught a train into London by myself to go a visit my dad at age 13.

think you a molly coddling!!!!

Enforceddrysummer · 15/08/2023 16:38

I was going 50 miles to London by train at 17 to college. My DS in the military had to get himself across the country by train for training at that age on his own. This must be a helicopter parent!

Littlewhitecat · 15/08/2023 16:56

My 15 y.o DS went to Wembley with his 15 y.o friends a couple of months ago by train. We live 140 miles from London and he was able use both train and tube fine. My only concession was he turned find my iphone on (he normally refuses). I just told him if there was any bother he wouldn't be doing it again. He goes all over the place to watch football.

Reugny · 15/08/2023 16:59

If the his gf mother wants to drive him, then let him accept the lift.

She's the one who has to do all the work....

(And I agree both of them can take the train as it isn't like they will be on their own.)

cheddercherry · 15/08/2023 17:04

I wouldn’t be putting yourself out to drive them because her DM says so? If she’s that concerned she can drive them herself but I’d be really struggling to see why two 17 year olds couldn’t fathom two changes especially in the daytime when I assume there’s multiple trains and it’s busy with plenty of people and staff etc? I was 17 when I moved away for uni (late summer birthday before September term) and had been to festivals across country and abroad so I think her DM is being overly precious in this scenario. Many 17 year olds are on the cusp of leaving home never mind navigating public transport.

whathappenedtosummer23 · 15/08/2023 17:06

Good grief my 13 year old uses the train and tube with his friends. They’re 17, not 7

HonoriaLucastaDelagardie · 15/08/2023 17:11

driving is a faff but it’s def not “into” London!

Depends what direction the op would be approaching from. If from SE, it is into London, or all round M25.

But yes, if a 17 yo isn't capable of taking a day trip by train within the uk, I'd wonder how she was going to cope with impending adulthood.

Gnomegnomegnome · 15/08/2023 17:12

Why can’t the gf mum drive them?
As your son has travelled abroad alone I would probably just laugh in her face tbh.

CheeseMuffin · 15/08/2023 17:13

madeinmanc · 15/08/2023 16:29

The Wembley area can be pretty dodgy, perhaps that's why? Not saying I agree, though.

If OP means the stadium it's not remotely dodgy! The whole area around it has been done up with restaurants and a shopping centre. There's even a Box Park!

jamdonut · 15/08/2023 17:30

Wembley stadium is better got to by train, but its not that bad a drive, (depending on where you are coming from). It's not Central London.
Two 17 year olds should be able to manage the train there!

Mrsjayy · 15/08/2023 17:32

KinooOrKinog · 15/08/2023 16:19

Let his girlfriends mum drive them!

That, if she wants to drive she can crack on.

Jamtartforme · 15/08/2023 17:32

At 17 I was happily taking flights alone.