Staying over at Online friend's house whose parents I have not met/know

[mljainldn]

My 17th yr old teen has asked to stay at a teenage female friend he has met online, which seems to be the norm in the teenage world. (she has visited our home once) whom I have met briefly once. She has invited my son to stay at her father's 2 nights. I have never met her parents (divorced) and I am very nervous of saying yes but yet don't want to have my teen feel that I am doubting his judgement and undermining him. What would you do? Any feedback is good to hear.

That would be a no from me.

Is there a reason, e.g. birthday or party or something? Or just the two of them for 2 nights?

I’d be strongly leaning towards no.

At 17 I think you cannot really say no. But make sure he knows he can be picked up at any time and please ensure that you have had a chat about safe sex even if he says this is not on his radar. Know where he is!

At 17 I was about to move out and go to uni - think it’s too old to say yes or no. But might help if you say something like ‘hope it goes well, but let me have the address please. And if you have any concerns, I’m happy to come and collect you. oh, and, I’m not suggesting sex would be a great idea when you don’t know her that well but do you want to take some condoms just in case?’

Well, you need a conversation with him. She is putting herself at huge risk, so this is not a well thought out plan at all - and the risk to him is less physical/sexual, but he is at risk of blackmail and life destroying lies.

I would try and persuade him not to go, on this basis. But ultimately, you can't stop him