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Original poster

Would you leave a 16 years old dd alone in a hotel in New York for one evening ?

94 replies

Passelevin · 06/05/2023 22:15

Just wondering ! She is not interested in some of the evening things we want to do. We’d leave her in the hotel, with snacks and tv

OP posts:
Oblomov23 · 06/05/2023 23:12

Absolutely. If she wants to. Why wouldn't you?

Twoshoesnewshoes · 06/05/2023 23:15

Yes
id probably see if there was someone nice on reception and let them know/let DD know she can call them

AnImaginaryCat · 06/05/2023 23:20

If she is happy with it. Otherwise it'll be unpleasant for her.

Also if its her idea and you go with this as a solution, you might find after one evening she's no interest in doing it again, if the reality doesn't live up to the novelty of it

LuckySantangelo35 · 06/05/2023 23:54

HauntedPencil · 06/05/2023 23:12

Parental responsibility isn't infanalising them either - unless there is a reason for this?

Show quote history

@TheApplianceofScience

why on earth not?
as this poster says- parenting is not the same as infantilising
it’s absolutely fine to leave a 16 year old in a hotel room for a few hours

LuckySantangelo35 · 06/05/2023 23:55

AnImaginaryCat · 06/05/2023 23:20

If she is happy with it. Otherwise it'll be unpleasant for her.

Also if its her idea and you go with this as a solution, you might find after one evening she's no interest in doing it again, if the reality doesn't live up to the novelty of it

@AnImaginaryCat

why would chilling in a hotel room for a couple of hours be “unpleasant”?!

toobusytothink · 07/05/2023 00:32

Erm yes without hesitation. I was on holiday abroad last summer with ds 16 and dd 15. Ds got very ill and had to be rushed to a hospital. I stayed overnight with him. Dd was fine, went to the bar and ordered chips and a coke and went to bed.

WilsonMilson · 07/05/2023 00:40

No, not abroad. Maybe I’m overprotective, but there’s no way I’d leave my teen on her own in a hotel room in a foreign country.

RealLife101 · 07/05/2023 00:47

Yes, I don’t see why not? I went to Ibiza for two weeks with a friend at 16. I can’t say I was particularly sensible, but I was streetwise and independent.

Dont answer the door to anyone, call if you need me etc - should be fine!

Rainydaysgetmedown · 07/05/2023 01:55

Yes of course. It’s New York, hardly the Wild West. Presumably she has a phone and WiFi? Struggling to see an issue

Rainydaysgetmedown · 07/05/2023 01:56

WilsonMilson · 07/05/2023 00:40

No, not abroad. Maybe I’m overprotective, but there’s no way I’d leave my teen on her own in a hotel room in a foreign country.

Really? In what is presumably a decent hotel in a major civilised English speaking city where she has a phone and WiFi and therefore able to contact her parents.

FurAndFeathers · 07/05/2023 02:13

TheApplianceofScience · 06/05/2023 23:07

Not a F*king chance.

Maybe at home, but you know you kind of signed for parental responsibility and this is one of these times.

Tough and all that, but dems the facts.

What is irresponsible about it?

you realise that plenty of teenagers actually live in NYC right?
what makes you think an almost-adult can’t sit in a hotel room responsibly?

Forgottenmypasswordagain · 07/05/2023 02:39

Yes.

UndercoverCop · 07/05/2023 02:42

I went to Berlin for a month with a friend at 16 , yes she'll be fine in a hotel room with Netflix and snacks

ProstituteHair · 07/05/2023 02:46

Why wouldn't you?

I've left mine in hotel rooms as teens all over when they're not interested. Teens love a hotel room, especially if you tell them they can order room service. She'll love it.

One of my teens has just turned 16 and we're sending him off to visit relatives in various countries this summer. Alone.

Losingweightissohard · 07/05/2023 02:54

Yes I would because at 16 she can decide things for herself however, I would be paranoid and worry but that’s my issue not hers.

I travelled around America and Canada with friends when I was just 18 (we had fake ID to get into bars etc). We were bold and brave and we had loads of adventures.

Watching ‘Race Around The World’ on BBC I’d forgotten how free that feeling of actually travelling not just holidaying can be. Also, most human beings are genuinely not out to harm you it’s only a few you have to be worried about.

Let her guide you she’s old enough to communicate how she feels about it and if she is okay to be alone what will not letting her achieve?

Pallisers · 07/05/2023 03:01

I am usually agog at MN threads about letting 16 year olds move out or 14 year olds drink or feeling no responsibility as a parent to an 18 year old - he's an adult!

But seriously. Not letting a 16 year old stay in a hotel room on her own in NYC? That is bonkers. I wouldn't even think twice about it.

lljkk · 07/05/2023 04:13

We stayed on our own in NYC hotel in 1981, 2 x 13 yr olds.

mondaytosunday · 07/05/2023 05:21

I went to Rome with my kids and it was really hot and my 13 year old son didn't want to come out look around a church so he stayed in the hotel. Didn't think twice!

Roselilly36 · 07/05/2023 06:21

Yes I would.

CosyFanTucci · 07/05/2023 06:34

Yes. I was interrailing around France at 15 and going to festivals. All pre- mobile phones. A 16yr-old me would have been out to explore the neighbourhood in a shot.

JandalsAlways · 07/05/2023 06:35

Depends how nice the hotel is, where it is etc and what your DC is like. Going missing in another country even NY, would be terrifying

HappiDaze · 07/05/2023 06:37

My DD is 16 and would definitely sneak out to explore as would I at that age

EdgeOfACoin · 07/05/2023 06:39

Of course!

whiteroseredrose · 07/05/2023 06:45

Yes, assuming she stays put.

We went as a family 10 years ago and loved it.

DS went last year and still loved it but said that it was full of homeless people unlike previously.

Srin · 07/05/2023 07:16

I’m a bit surprised that anyone would even ask this. It is so obviously fine.

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