Allowing 13 year old DD to go out on her own

[Jacky22]

We have just had another big discussion about going out on her own. He dad says she is not to, I am totally afraid of not being able to contact her/her not contacting me to let me know where she is and that everything is okay, and she is trying her utmost to convince me that even if her phone runs out of charge and I can't get hold of her it doesn't mean she's been abducted. Just don't know how to start, how to get to where we feel comfortable and it is normal for her to be out and about and free to come and go as she pleases. Is the age important? Is it all down to the individual? In a quandary; realise a lot of it is down to my fear, but also need advice on how to gradually build up to allowing her to go out on her own. Just need advice on sensible boundaries, what is reasonable.

My son has a strong tendency to turn his phone off...

I can't say it hugely bothers me tbh, though I have talked to him about it as it's embarrassing having to text all my mates trying to find him if he's not let us know the plan, and there's also the making meals issue. So he's now ringing us around 12 noon and 5pm to keep us in touch with his plans.

He's out a lot, and that's fine with me. He's a good kid with good friends and in general I trust him. If you don't trust your dd or think her friends are dodgy then start small.

The rule is "Everyone stays together, nobody is left on their own

^
Really like this. When my friends were a bit older and I started going out to parties and clubs, long before mobile phones this is something my parents would say. No matter who got together with a boy or who got drunk we all watched out for one another and we always stayed together and made sure we were safe.