AIBU to pick up DS frmo party

[ThatLimeNewt]

DS16 is going to an event/rave in central London over his break from school. The event will last from 4-9pm. He's insisting he wants to return home by himself and doesn't want it get picked up from the venue (there is a direct train). Is it uncommon for teens to not want to be picked up. AIBU to refuse to let him go unless I can pick him up?

Better I think that he is on a train. I live rurally and my big worry was that they would be driven home along narrow lanes by someone who had had a drink - I wish there had been nice safe trains for them to get home on!

What? Yes, I do. I said more.flexibility. eg now.he takes bus to.sports group in evening which he didnt fo a year or.two ago. He takes a train with a change. He's 14 so no, i wouldn't let him take a train from London at 9pm but yes, I expect he absolutely will by rhe time hes 16! I fully expect him to.start wanting to.take train to London by this summer when hes 15.

Apologies I thought you meant he didn’t use transport at all. I would let a 14yo get on a train from London at 9pm no bother. My dd was coming home (with a friend) on the bus from the theatre in the next big city at that age.

Interesting. I think its more that I wouldn't allow him in London alone at that age, amd definitely not at 9pm 🤣. But we live in Surrey so closish, but he doesn't have much London experience. I'd let him and friends take the bus to local town now though and he has taken train one or two stops to and from local parties. Should easily build up to London in next 18 months or so, especially with friends.

thanks all i think ill pick him up to be safe

Fuck me OP he’s never ever going to tell you where he’s going again. What on earth was the point of posting if you’re just going to ignore everyone, including many who actually know the area and the event very well, who have all told you it’s ridiculous that you think he needs picking up.

God he’s gong to be one of those uni students who has never developed any coping skills and gets into stupid unsafe situations because mummy kept him wrapped up in cotton wool.

Why bother asking? 88% say you are being unreasonable but you go with the original plan anyway. At what age will you allow him to travel independently? At 16 I was at uni living away from home ffs.

Reading this thread is making me feel vicarious teenage rage. At 16 I was going up to London with friends, back packing in Europe at 17. Let the poor kid grow up.

Poor lad. His friends will be going for pizza, maybe even going off to see the Christmas lights somewhere, while he's picked up by mummy and misses out on some perfectly harmless teenage fun and adventure.

PP is right, he won't tell you were he's going in future.

Have just read the rest of your posts, so I’m guessing they can’t be real (but quite funny, esp. the hard hat one). Looking forward to hearing how the big event goes off.

This post illustrates why we are bringing up kids with such little resilience. At 16 someone is more than capable of getting a train at 9pm. Jeez, this is worrying.

I’m assuming this is real. No one is that tone deaf to not take any of the sensible comments on board.