Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

teenagers walking home

22 replies

KatyPutTheCuttleOn · 05/10/2013 16:22

If your teenager is out at a friend's do you always collect them or do you expect them to walk home. My DD is round at a friend's house and wants collecting, however my youngest is playing out and I want to let him carry on, therefore have told DD to walk home - it's a 40 minute walk at most from one side of town to the other.
Reasonable, or unreasonable? She has a phone and money and it's not going to be dark. She could choose to get a bus from town.

OP posts:
bigTillyMint · 05/10/2013 16:27

YANBU!

If it was during the daytime, then DD would probably make her own way back - in London so many buses and free travel. DS wouldn't even ask for a lift as he would cycle/walk/get the bus without questionSmile

flow4 · 05/10/2013 16:27

Definitely reasonable! In my book, daytime lifts for teenagers are a favour not a right!

Sparklingbrook · 05/10/2013 16:30

Sounds fine. I would tell DS1 to do the same. He would moan but it's dry and light and would have his phone. There is always the bus as you say.

DameDeepRedBetty · 05/10/2013 16:30

In daytime they've been walking in a group since age 8, alone since age 11.

At night they are expected to walk in a pair, and if that isn't possible I will fetch them (currently aged 14)

Original poster
KatyPutTheCuttleOn · 05/10/2013 16:31

Thanks. I thought as much but wasn't sure and didn't want to stick my head over the AIBU parapet Grin

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 05/10/2013 16:32

Mine all walked or got the bus as teenagers.

Sparklingbrook · 05/10/2013 16:34

DS2 (11) has gone into the next big town on the Park and ride. he left at 11.30. We had a call saying he had spent £8.69 on lunch but nothing since. Yikes.

bigTillyMint · 05/10/2013 16:41

What did he eat, Sparkling?!

Original poster
KatyPutTheCuttleOn · 05/10/2013 16:43

I wonder if he is there with my DD, she's also in the next big town but went on the train as it's only just over a pound. £8.69 for lunch?! DD and her friends go to Subway as they have found it is the cheapest.
I only get a text from DD if it is about collecting her. I've not had a reply to the one saying she has to walk....Grin

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 05/10/2013 16:49

I have just had a text from his mates Mum to say they are back at his mate's house. DH rang him and there was lots of shrieking in the background.

I have no idea what the £8.69 lunch was Tilly. He went off with his debit card so he obviously fancied a blow out. DH is not happy about it.

We are picking him up at half 5.

bigTillyMint · 05/10/2013 18:38

"Shrieking in the background" - reminds of why I am glad DS's voice has brokenSmile

Hope it was a slap-up meal!

Sparklingbrook · 05/10/2013 18:50

£4 something in McDonalds, and a bucket of Popcorn for the 4 of them to share. Hmm

bigTillyMint · 05/10/2013 18:51

Healthy choices thenGrin

Sparklingbrook · 05/10/2013 18:55

Oh yes. Smile

Original poster
KatyPutTheCuttleOn · 05/10/2013 20:31

Good, nutritious food. I expect the pigs flew there to make the 'sausages'
DD got a lift home....

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 05/10/2013 20:33

Oh no Katy how did she do that?

Original poster
KatyPutTheCuttleOn · 05/10/2013 20:41

DS wanted to play out for longer and DD texted about coming home at 7pm so I collected her because it would be dark when she got home.

I had a bad mother moment earlier, DS was playing and asked to go to the corner shop with his friends who range in age from 7-12. I agreed but 1/2 an hour later he was not back, I looked in all the usual places and then ran to the shop to check if they had been in, they had. Got back to find DS had been crying on the doorstep and had then told a neighbour that I must have gone to look for him and told the neighbour which way I would have walked and came to find me.

OP posts:
bubby64 · 06/10/2013 15:04

I got a call the other day to come and fetch DS (12) and his bikeShock from the other side of the village! He said he was "too tired to ride home". its only just over a mile!! Guess who got short shift from his mumGrin .

Sparklingbrook · 06/10/2013 15:36

Grin Where was the bike going? On the roof?

Ds2 rang me for a lift home from school-had to remind him he cycled there that morning. Hmm

flow4 · 06/10/2013 17:21

My DS1 has a new tactic: he no longer asks me for a lift; he phones to let me know he's on his way home (unprecedented in itself!) then lets slip he has "just missed the bus"! Hmm Grin

Original poster
KatyPutTheCuttleOn · 07/10/2013 07:23

bubbly I'd have been tempted to say that he didn't have to ride home if he was too tired to ride a bike, after all he could walk instead....

OP posts:
SilverApples · 07/10/2013 07:59

It is always a balancing act I've found. Anything up to three miles is walkable for either of mine, they are also good with using public transport.
Usually if they are going to be home late, they either ask in advance or organise that they will walk with friends for the most part, so if they do phone and ask me, they always have a good reason.
You need to decide on each occasion, so that they work out where the limits are after a while, and it gets easier.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page