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?

What is it with treating adults like babies these days? A sensible 19 could easily manage that. In 3 years your daughter won’t have to be accompanied by her mother.

Not sure what you’re implying, but at least I didn’t feel the need to drop the fact that I went to law school in a conversation about 19-year-olds traveling alone and airport weather.

That’s usually what people do when the actual point they’re attempting to make can’t stand up on its own, so they prop it up with a credential nobody asked for. Very odd to mock someone for an imaginary lanyard while gripping your own little badge of authority with both hands.

It’s a 19 year old and a 15 year old? yes I would let them go, if I trusted my niece. My son was travelling 13 hours to China with mates at 18 I am not sure what the issue is?

Of course your 19 year old niece can do it. She is an adult.
As others have said by that age I was backpacking round the world, without a mobile phone. Don’t infantilise her.
unless your daughter has behavioural issues that you aren’t mentioning

Just a bit of info...from experience a long time ago, Atlanta airport is huge! It was almost overwhelming as an adult, and I just googled to check but it's also classed as the worlds busiest airport!
Also dependant on where the concert is, like any major city, there are parts of Atlanta that are dangerous. (My flight was delayed so I missed my connecting flight and ended up stranded in Atlanta for the night and felt unsafe).
I think if you're good to go then why not, but I was also traveling the world myself at 19, so it's also dependant on how mature your niece and daughter are.

Personally, the flight wouldn’t bother me but I would be anxious about getting to the concert/hotel/airport. I would go with them.

It’s away from home , a city they don’t know and it’s 2 hours flight away .
I agree with you , I would go with them .
You can go and have dinner , see the city etc .

The flying and airport part wouldn't bother me, but the navigating to, around and back out of Atlanta would worry me tbh. Maybe its reputation is exaggerated but Id be hesitant in sending 2 young women that v much stick out as tourists there

You are .

I’ve flown alone since the age of 14 and travelled alone at 18, so I’m with your husband! They will be fine!

I wouldn't take my kids anywhere near America while he is in charge.

You’re being overprotective. She’s an adult. I spent 3 months going all over America alone at that age for gods sake!

Atlanta’s absolutely fine, you’re talking rubbish. Doubt you’ve ever even been. It’s far from the most dangerous city in America for gods sake. They’re not going to East St Louis!

Is it a night time concert? I would probably say no in the event because 19 is an adult here - is not an adult in the US until 21. Often there are flight delays and cancellations. If they got stranded and had to stay in a hotel could she legally at 19 do so? Also do they know the city to navigate it at night? I work a lot in the US and there are a lot of issues with drugs in a lot of the big cities now - they look like zombies doubled over. Dallas was horrific. San Francisco too. Not done Atlanta though but heading there shortly. Whilst they are largely harmless in my experience, I wouldn’t leave two under 21 females together nighttime in a city in the US.

The age of majority in Georgia (and in Florida) is 18. The drinking age is 21, but adulthood starts at 18. It's true that some hotels won't let someone under 21 book a room.

I still think the OP should go just to help with logistics which can be challenging in a city the size of Atlanta.

For me it's the fact it's America and a different country. I would go for this reason.

Ariana Grande is playing in Florida for a few nights just before her Atlanta date- could you not sell the existing tickets and swap to that? Then you could just drive them down there, it’s only a few hours from Orlando (near Ft Lauderdale).

I would have no problem letting them go alone. Teens and young adults need these experiences where they can step up, feel trusted and come back feeling proud of themselves.

The confidence with which you’re confusing the drinking age with the age of adulthood is honestly remarkable.

An 18-year-old in the US is legally an adult. They can vote, enlist, marry, sign contracts, and be prosecuted as an adult. They just can’t buy alcohol. The fact that you think access to a beer is what determines adulthood says far more about you than it does about US law.

Maybe spend less time explaining countries you clearly don’t understand and more time checking whether you’re actually correct first.

I think several posters have confused the drinking age in the US with the age of majority. In every state but three, the age of majority is 18. And even in those states with higher ages (19 in Alabama and Nebraska; 21 in Mississippi), 18-year-olds can exercise most of the rights of adults.

As long as your niece is sensible, I don’t see the issue with her taking your child alone. Equally I don’t think it’s OTT to want to travel with them as your child is only 15. Neither of you are wrong and if you would feel more comfortable going with them, I’d do that. Hope they have a great time.

I lived in Florida when I was 18, no parents, just friends I made there. I was perfectly ok travelling alone, I still say go with them. I also travelled alone at 15, I still say go with them.
Both are probably capable but I think to be extra safe, you should go. They don’t have to travel alone and you don’t have to helicopter them, but it’s better if you’re at least close by.

As I understand it, it's about being the parent of a 15-year-old who's undertaking an unfamiliar experience in an environment she doesn't know. This is a great thing for a 15-year-old to do.

As a parent, you have to think about what could go wrong and how you would handle it. There's ample opportunity for something to go wrong on this little expedition, and OP will be a two-hour flight away at best.

She isn't planning to attend the concert with the girls, she just wants to be nearby in case she's needed. This isn't saying she doesn't rust them OR that she anticipates disaster - merely that she's an experienced adult who takes her parental responsibilities seriously. It also turns out she knows Atlanta well, having lived there, so is likely to be able to smooth out any glitches the girls encounter.

Really? I genuinely cannot believe the amount of people who would feel it necessary to accompany them, no wonder we have a generation of young adults unable to fend for themselves. It's a short trip to a concert, they're 15 and 19 not 5 and 9 and should be perfectly capable ( some posters asking whether they'll find the stadium ?!?) - if they're not then then haven't been given an opportunity to grow and develop into capable young adults.

No wonder so many kids are useless these days when parents won't even let them take a 2-hour flight alone.