For letting a 16 year old walk home?

[Floofatron]

Difference of opinion with DH…
My 16 year old DS is going to a party tonight. It will finish at 11pm ish. He asked if he can walk home with his friends (three others, they are 15 and 16) rather than be picked up like we would usually do. They are all staying at ours. It’s about 45-60 min walk through a fairly peaceful town. He is sensible but I imagine there will be a bit of alcohol at this party. He has a tracker on his phone.
AIBU to let them?

YABU - you should pick them up
YANBU - it’s fine to let them walk

If I wanted to pick up my son and his friends, I would, an the fact that my partner and co parent wouldn’t have picked them up - would be neither here nor there for me.

Did your dh want to pick up but you you wanted them to walk @Floofatron ?

My son would have walked home at that age but I would have been worried. He is now 19 and I still worry, there are some awful people out there.

He is off to the army in April and people keep asking how I will cope/how scared am I?

His college was on lockdown twice due to knife incidents, with one resulting in a stabbing. He has been threatened in the street by someone claiming to have a gun. Been approached a couple of times by people asking for weed. Has left bars twice due to mass fights breaking out. Had his bike stolen by a group of boys who didn’t like that he was white.

Theres probably a lot more. So actually, I think I’m more worried about him now than I will be in a few months.

My point is, not unreasonable to let them walk home, but it is not safe out there and you will worry!

@Andflip we were both unsure what was the right answer but initially DH thought we should definitely pick up whereas I thought we should let them walk.

It ended up being more like a 30 min walk (the party was nearer than they thought) and there was another group of their friends walking almost entirely the same way.
None of them were wasted - DS is massively into fitness and was in the gym this morning so definitely not hungover and puking! He has never given me reason not to trust him and he proved himself reliable again last night.

Did you show your husband the thread?

as I say, if I wanted to collect my son and his friends - I would. Fact my partner didn’t want to, would be a non issue

No I didn’t, we just talked to our son about it and decided we’d let him.
Of course, if DH had wanted to pick him up that would have been fine, and vice versa.
DS was keen to walk though!

Nah not depressed . Just see reality .
Clearly unlike you.
My children are beautifully intelligent and smart thank you .
They’re grand . As am I. 🤗