Ariana Grande dilemma

[coulditbeme2323]

OK we are spending the summer in Florida. Myself, husband, and children. As it is half work half holiday - we are taking our 19 year old niece for the 6 weeks to help out when we are working.

My girl is 15 and we have managed to get Ariana Grande tickets in Atlanta. For information it's about a two hour flight from Orlando.

Now my husband is happy for our 19 year old niece (who is very sensible) to go with our daughter.

I have said it's a big city, and I would rather go. Not to the concert, but just travel with them.

They only plan to be gone 48 hours.

Who is right?

You are

I am going to screen shot this!

Thank you!

Do you disagree with your h’s decision because I assume that’s the actual problem? We don’t know your niece so it’s hard to comment but in the surface you are because the average 19 year old can travel 2 hours away without another adult.

No I wouldn’t be letting them fly alone, not in a million years. Your niece could be the most sensible girl alive but she’s still only 19 and doesn’t have enough life experience to travel with a child.

Fly with them and then drop them at the concert alone.

Yes not even a conversation, this is what I am doing.

Thank you everybody for reassuring me I wasn't being an overprotective old bat.

Another vote for go with them. And find yourself somewhere lovely to eat, something to do etc while the concert is on.

I wouldn’t leave a 19yo in charge a whole 2 hour flight away. I’m with you op. Take them to the concert and bring them back. Anything could go wrong and you would have to fly there and have no clue how to deal with it.

Your niece could be the most sensible girl alive but she’s still only 19 and doesn’t have enough life experience to travel with a child.

19? Many 19 year olds have jobs, children, and travel all over the world independently.

At 19 I travelled to and around SE Asia and that was without backup of phones or internet to consult if something goes wrong. I’m sure many MNers did the same.

Honestly I think you’re being a bit OTT.

You don't say whether the niece is British or from the US. If British no, I wouldn't be happy with them travelling in a strange overseas city - it's different to the same within the UK. If the niece lives in the US it would also be a no from me because the two don't know each other well enough.

I travelled by myself from age 17 but the additional responsibility of someone else's child in a foreign country is one I'd still spend time to consider. I certainly don't think it's wise at 19.

British

Having just flown in from Atlanta, it’s a HUGE airport, but easy enough to navigate. Lots of helpful workers.

What are the logistics of getting to the concert after the flight?

My 19yo dd has a baby. If she wanted to fly abroad and manage her dc she could. Why don't you trust your dn?

My DC is 26, and if we were in the US, just for the summer, and she and one of our younger DN wanted to fly 2 hours to another state for a concert, in all likelihood, either DH or I would go too.

At 19 you DN may be too young to check into a hotel (it varies) and I just wouldn't want to heap the responsibility of a minor on her.

And I say this as a parent who let their DC fly home from the US on their own, including changing planes at 16

Agreed! I am a bit shocked by OP and PP’s views. We must be outliers 🤷🏼‍♀️

My older dd has taken her younger siblings to concerts before in her car. That's more scarey!

I travelled around the world at that age alone pre-tech, but nowadays a lot of people that age have a false sense of security because of the internet, global village phenomenon. If she’s not used to the US then travel with them. Not worth the risk. Plus the US is a different place to when I travelled there alone 30 years ago!

I’m sure the your 19 year old niece is perfectly sensible and can manage herself fine. I wouldn’t be comfortable with this scenario, and would absolutely be travelling to and from the concert with them.

Generally as a parent, if it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t!

Yes this go with them, your neice might value the support.

I do trust her.

Neither of you are right or wrong really. I'd think that would be fine, it's less than a 2hr flight and easy to get around, but I can also see why you'd want to go.

19 is an adult, I don't know the individuals involved but have a 19 year old niece and I'd trust her to be in charge of a younger teenager 100%. However, if you're going to fret the whole time there's nothing wrong with going with them.

Will you go ? There is that age gap between my Dds and at that age flying in a strange country one of us would have gone for peace of mind, as a pp said they might not be allowed to check into the hotel under 21 or whatever.

I see you've made your decision already, which is perfectly fine, but I will say my not street smart, ASD DS just 17YO flew to Berlin via Schipol by himself for a language course, and last week at 18 took himself from LHR to rural USA for Camp America. My 20YO is just about to come back after studying abroad for a year. They need to grow up at some point!

I flew all the way to NY by myself at that age and then navigated my way to Long Island to a camp I was working at, travelled round the US by myself and then flew home by myself. You have to do what makes you comfortable but a 16 and a 19 year old should be perfectly capable and I am firmly with your DH on this. We do our young people no favours by mollycoddling them like this, clearly I am an outlier though but I do feel sorry for young people today with parents who have to be part of everything they do in some way shape or form.

Why can't a 19 year old and a 15 year old manage this simple trip? You are being ridiculous. Let them go alone.