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?

Maybe talk about them staying together and a plan if they get split up.. (Always told mine never leave the shop! Ask a shop assistant behind the counter for help!) . Assume they both have phones.. Reinforce keep them charged. Stick to plans. Don't walk off!! All the typical dm advice!

Does the 19 year old know Atlanta? Will she find her way to the concert with ease?

I wouldnt have a problem with this, the 19 year old is sensible and is at the age where she could easily be travelling on her own, doing camp america all sorts, its a short trip I'd let them go on their own. I am guessing both will have phones, Google Maps, and be able to text each other to meet back up if they become separated for whatever reason.

I would be going to

We spend a lot of time in the state and its not like Europe with the ease of getting around everything being close to hand

You can leave them to get on with their time

I was travelling solo from 18 but view the US as quite different to many countries when travelling around

I have two girls of these exact ages and I'd let them go by themselves. My 19 year old would be really quite insulted if I insinuated she wouldn't be capable of it. 19 is a fully grown adult.

All the "well I travelled everywhere, had a kid a house and I was fine" people, (and my dd was flying to foreign festivals and travelling with mates at 19) thats ok for you, but only op knows the niece and dd well. And it's her dd. If she doesn't feel it, then for her piece of mind then she should go. What is the well used saying on here? Trust your gut. Go, have a lovely female bonding session.

My 15 year old flew on his own last year, through big airports.So did my niece at the same age. They were both fine on their own, never mind needing a 19 year old with them. I wouldn't think this is a problem.

You are being ridiculous their 19 and 15 they can go on a plane by themselves

That's not so much my issue.

I flew by myself to and from Canada, including an internal connection, when I was 16. It was nerve-wracking but I managed. However my Canadian friend drove me to the airport so I wasn't responsible for ground transportation. I think the flying bit is the easier part. I'd be reluctant to leave a 19yr old in an unknown city with a younger cousin. Whilst the 19yr old alone may have been possible, adding in the responsibility of a younger relative is just that bit harder. If you are free, and the trip can be built into your holiday, then go with them, point them in the right direction and it gives them a little reassurance that there's someone nearby if things go pearshaped.

I agree with this.

I'm American (from NYC now live in London) and, while the airport is pretty easy to navigate, I think the general insanity of traffic in Atlanta could be pretty overwhelming for them.

Are they flying in and out on the same day? I agree with the pps that some hotels will want one of them to be 21, and there's always a chance of weather delays with flights etc.

So which part is the issue.

Yes but she's saying "who's right me or husband?" So it might be that she feels like she can't let them go alone but that doesn't mean she's "right" and he's wrong.

I know Atlanta well, have lived there on and off.

It's a huge city, that neither of them know.

How far is the concert from the airport

Would be about 45 mins.

Totally in support of you going too. Just stay in the hotel and work etc. Unless your 19yo niece has legal responsibility for your child, if there was an issue (accident/illness) she wouldn’t be able to act on your daughter’s behalf (at a hospital etc).

My youngest is 18 and will be taking his GF to a big gig over August bank holiday in London (we bought him the tickets). She is not very familiar or used to London, so either DH or I will be in town so that we are on hand in case needed. It’ll be the first time they’ll have gone to with adult ID and will be allowed to buy drinks unsupervised etc so we want him to enjoy that knowing we are nearish if it goes a bit pear-shaped. Obvs not expecting to be called and know this is the dummy run for uni/gigs in another city when he goes in September. But I’d def be travelling to Georgia in your circumstances.

I imagine she would just Google maps. That’s what I do when I go on holiday, it’s very simple.

Surely its just a case of looking which bus/train they need to get and them getting of the plane and getting on it

I think this comes down to the 15yo, more than the 19yo. Obviously, a 19yo can travel the world. But can they control the 15yo if they are not cooperating? If the 15yo has an argument and storms off, refuses to do what is asked of them, etc, then there is not much a 19yo can do about it.

And I'm adding to this that 2 of my 3 DCs went to university across the ocean from us, so I'm not exactly someone who can't let them develop independence and I still wouldn't be comfortable with this. Atlanta and Schiphol airports and surrounds are not comparable, by the way.

They defo wouldn't be doing that, Atlanta is not a city known for its public transport!

Exactly. I was going to say as long as they’re both sensible and won’t be trying to sneak into nightclubs or something stupid after the show, I’d let them go. But then again I moved to the USA alone shortly after turning 18 to be an au pair for a couple of 3yo’s.

Depends on the teenagers involved really. That was DDs a couple of years ago and they could have done it together without me.

Is your 15 year old a childish brat who will likely storm of or is she normal op