Teenage boys and space

9 replies

minimoo72 · 27/12/2014 22:18

Hi quick thought how much free space to give your son of nearly 16
I le my boy have quite a lot of freedom ie stay out late or last minute decision crash at mates. Does this make me a bad mum

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 27/12/2014 22:22

Not sure what you are asking TBH.

ssd · 27/12/2014 22:40

what do you mean op?

SueDunome · 27/12/2014 23:10

It depends how trustworthy you think he is but, at 16, he's nearly an adult.

ds is fairly independent - takes a train to nearest large town to take his girlfriend out for a meal on an evening, etc. He goes to occasional parties, bit not really a regular. He went to Glastonbury with his friends and survived and, as far as I know, acted responsibly.

chocoluvva · 28/12/2014 00:14

From the age of about 14 I try to give them as much freedom as possible (safe). If they want to do something and I don't like the thought of it I try to find a compromise or question what it is I don't like.

IME teenagers who have very strict parents are more likely to go mad when they leave home.

cleo14 · 04/01/2015 20:29

I agree with chocoluvva post above

bigTillyMint · 05/01/2015 10:38

What Chocoluvva said.

mamawitch · 10/01/2015 13:27

My eldest DS is 16 he was out at a party last night and text me to say he was staying at his friends there are 2 girls 2 boys in their little friendship group I know they are all good kids yeah they drank alcohol but they were very responsible and I agree that if you feel they are trust worthy you should let them off the reigns a little

CalicoBlue · 10/01/2015 13:52

I give my Ds 17 a lot of freedom. He does not have a time to be home by, can stay at friends and stays at his gf house too. Because he has so much freedom he does not go out very much. As I am happy for his friends to come here, they do rather than go out.

As Choccoluvva says, they need to learn how to handle freedom and make choices.

LynetteScavo · 10/01/2015 13:58

It depends where they are, which mates they are staying with.

If it was one of DSs best friends I'd be totally happy with him staying over if it wasn't a school night.

If he was staying out late at a friends house, or a party I wouldn't have a problem if I knew where he was and what time he was coming home.

He went to Glastonbury with his friends and survived and, as far as I know, acted responsibly - Of course he didn't - but he came home in one piece, which is what matters.

Flip