14 year-old desperate to go to Bestival

11 replies

MIlesdavis · 10/09/2015 15:22

Appealing to the brilliance of Mumsnet...

My 14 year old daughter has been invited to Bestival with her friend and her friend's father. It doesn't feel right to me, but I am keeping an open mind before I decide one way or the other.

I've never been. Has anyone been there...and does anyone have advice on whether they'd allow their teenager to go?

OP posts:

bigTillyMint · 10/09/2015 15:28

I think it would be OK - they would be with him all the time.
As long as you trust him?

NerrSnerr · 10/09/2015 15:32

What are you concerned about? Almost all festivals nowadays are really family friendly and there's loads aimed for all ages. From what I remember I think Bestival is one of the more family friendly ones?

TwmSionCati · 10/09/2015 15:32

Should be OK - it is not your run of the mill scuzzy festival after all...

Sadik · 10/09/2015 15:39

For me it would depend on what the friend's father was like. . . Basically, is he likely to operate at a level of supervision that you'd be comfortable with. Just thinking of dd's friends, some I'd be really happy that their dad would be suitably on the case, others - not so much.

What would I be worried about . . . depending on the 14 year old, drink and drugs, tbh, pretty much regardless of festival.

IHaveBrilloHair · 10/09/2015 15:40

Fine if the Dad is there.

stilllearnin · 10/09/2015 15:41

My 14 year old is at bestival with his dad. Can you pin point what you are concerned about at all? We haven't been before but we go to lots and quite hairy ones too. I dont think Bestival is known for being very family friendly (Perhaps you are thinking of camp bestival). I have a lot of behind the scenes festival experience and I am afraid that my current advice for teen girls is not to go anywhere alone (even to the loo queue), particularly after dark. But that would be fairly standard advice on a night in town too (altho not many 14 year olds are clubbing these days - phew!).

Your dd will most likely be ok - but only you know how reliable she is, and whether you trust the friend and dad.

stilllearnin · 10/09/2015 15:45

sorry - I am giving a bad impression - from what I hear Bestival is not scary tho. I meant it isn't particularly aimed at families (altho that wont matter to a 14 year old).

FelixFelix · 10/09/2015 15:47

Bestival is still very family friendly even though they also run Camp Bestival. It generally attracts a nice crowd. She will have a great time.

raisin3cookies · 10/09/2015 15:59

Follow your instinct. She's only 14 and has plenty of years ahead of her to go to festivals with friends.

Sadik · 10/09/2015 16:39

I wonder if the scenario is actually that dad is planning to go to the festival with his dd, and has offered that she can bring a friend - which is a bit different to 'going to festivals with your friends'.

I've offered in the past that dd could take a friend along esp. if I've been doing workshops and therefore can get an extra free teen ticket fairly easily.

Original poster

MIlesdavis · 10/09/2015 19:37

Thanks for all your comments - so appreciate it. You've made me look at what was bothering me and the truth is I am not so sure about the father to be honest. I don't like the idea of a festival during term time. School just started and she's just beginning GCSEs. They were also thinking of taking tomorrow off school and telling the school they were sick...and that's not going to happen. I think I'll feel more solid about her attending this kind of thing next summer when she's just that bit older. Thanks for helping me think it through. (smile)

OP posts:

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