Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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

What do you do about young teens on NYE?

25 replies

Tex111 · 26/12/2016 21:53

DS (14) wants to spend NYE with friends. I'm fine with that but I'm wondering how he gets home that night. He's not allowed to sleepover (that's a whole other story) so he'll need to come home but I don't want him walking home at 1am on his own (we live in London). DH and I would like to have a NYE drink or two so we couldn't drive to pick him up. I'm guessing taxis will be hard to come by. What do you do?

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 26/12/2016 21:57

If he were mine I just wouldn't be drinking so I could collect him , but that's easy for me to say because I don't drink anyway .

ChocoChou · 26/12/2016 22:06

I wouldn't drink so I could collect him or be available if something goes wrong and he needs picking up? It's responsibility Confused

glasshalfemp · 26/12/2016 22:10

He wouldn't go until old enough to come home alone Hmm

lapsedorienteerer · 26/12/2016 22:12

14 is way too young to be going to spend NYE (until midnight) with friends in my opinion.........

NicknameUsed · 26/12/2016 22:13

I would either have him sleep over or not drink so I could pick him up.

ggirl · 26/12/2016 22:13

Yup , I would either not drink and pick him up , or book a taxi ,if that's possible , to go and collect him...but that all sounds such a fag , I'd suggest his mates came to you instead .

NerrSnerr · 26/12/2016 22:15

I know at 14 I would have slept over but we lived in the countryside and were geeky kids who'd have been watching The Craft and eating Pringles. If he can't sleep over I would say he can't go.

AChickenCalledKorma · 26/12/2016 22:16

DD1 is 14. We celebrate NYE at home as a family and going out with friends hasn't come up yet. If it did, I'd want to be very, very clear about where she is, who she's going with and who's in charge. If (huge "if") i was happy with the plans, i would absolutely keep sober, so as to be able to pick her up. But in all honesty, I'd much more likely be saying no because I think she's too young.

Notnownornever · 26/12/2016 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WankersHacksandThieves · 26/12/2016 22:24

I have 16 and 15 year olds but this hasn't come up yet (they aren't that social) but, the answer would be "no" I think. Different if it was local friends and they were able to walk home (we live on a "nice" estate).

If I did want to let them go and they couldn't walk home then I wouldn't drink until after I'd picked them up.

Ellapaella · 26/12/2016 22:24

I have a 14 year old and I wouldn't be allowing him to stay out until midnight until he was old enough and responsible enough to walk home himself. A compromise would be postpone drinking myself until 10pm, pick him up and then have a drink when I got home or tell him to come home for 9.30 - 10 at latest. Personally I think 14 is too young to be walking around late at night on NYE but I guess this is the kind of thing that depends upon the individual child and what the parents find acceptable. Could you book a taxi in advance?

Natsku · 26/12/2016 22:26

I think in this situation either sleepover (with responsible adults there) or you picking him up are the only options. Its a difficult age for New Year's Eve but he's also at an age to want to spend time with friends. The other option is if he gets a taxi with someone else that you trust. What about taking a taxi to pick him up if you really want a drink? Most likely you'll need to book in advance though.

Figure17a · 26/12/2016 22:30

My 14yo wouldn't be going unless I knew the parents very well and/or it was close enough for dh and I to walk to bring him home

Eevee77 · 26/12/2016 22:40

What do you think people do? He either stays out or pick him up. Or invite his friends over.

Violetcharlotte · 26/12/2016 22:50

My DS2 is 15 and going for a sleepover NYE. I wouldn't want him to have to get home. If a sleepover want an option I would either not drink and pick him up or he wouldn't go.

DollyPlastic · 26/12/2016 22:52

If he wasn't sleeping over, he wouldn't be going.

ScoobyDoosTinklyLaugh · 26/12/2016 23:09

No sleeping over, no staying out late. I would maybe consider a walk home with a sensible friend who was staying with him at yours.

Philoslothy · 27/12/2016 00:47

We have a party at our house as we know what our teenagers are up to

notangelinajolie · 27/12/2016 00:52

Easy, not drink and pick them up. Toast the New Year when they are home.

busyboysmum · 27/12/2016 00:56

We have a big party at our house so all our kids are present and correct and rampaging round with their friends. Actually my teenager is probably the best behaved person at the party 😆

Howlongtilldinner · 27/12/2016 07:29

I didn't drink on NYE for years when mine went out (never at 14)..there's no way I could enjoy myself if I was worried about them getting home..mine is nearly 19 and I still worry..this is parenting!

Poppiesway · 27/12/2016 07:49

How many other teens are going and how are they getting home? Can they all be given a lift together?
Ds1 and his friend started the New Year's Eve thing last year and they came to ours (one of thems older brother picked them all up and distributed them accordingly) but they were welcome to stay if they wanted too (as they do in the summer.. they camp out in my garden)
However If he were at another's house I wouldn't have a drive to make sure he was safely home.

Original poster
Tex111 · 27/12/2016 12:02

Thanks. I will stick to soft drinks and pick him up. This feedback has been heartening.

OP posts:
JustDanceAddict · 27/12/2016 20:26

If my 14 yr old wanted to go to a friends she'd have to stay over or dh/me would stay sober. As it is we are all staying over at family friends. No way would I let her come back on her own at midnight on any night!!

museumum · 27/12/2016 20:28

How far away? If walking distance we'd probably both head out and meet him and walk home.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread