Teen abroad alone for first time - wants to come home

[Cheesecakeistheanswer]

As the title says - DD18 is on an organised volunteer project in SE Asia. She’s meant to be there for 3 weeks. She is a homebody and quite shy, but it was her idea to go.

She arrived yesterday morning. Almost as soon as she got there I started getting a stream of WhatsApps saying she couldn’t do it, wants to come home after a week, worries about every little thing…

I don’t want her to be unhappy but I think she’ll regret it in the long run if she comes home that early. (And would set a bad precedent for future challenges).

I’ve been trying to get her to take it day by day, and to be understanding about her concerns - it is a massive thing for her to do. But I don’t know if it’s time for some tough love - and just how tough to be.

Has anyone been in this position before? How did you deal with it?

@Waitingfordoggo My DDs went to school in South Africa for 3 months at 13. They were able to contact me via internet but powered on through! If the internet is treated sensibly, dc who are not put off by minor inconveniences, don’t ask to come home anyway! It’s not the internet that’s the issue. It’s being flaky about minor issues.

I don’t see homesickness as ‘flaky’ personally.

@Waitingfordoggo I do at 18-19 when it’s only for 3 weeks! It’s knowing mum might agree and that you don’t have to see something out. It’s the definition of flaky. Others with no rich parent would have to see it through. Of course people need to get over being homesick if they choose to go. The DD hadn’t been sent! It’s not really homesickness - it’s not linking what she’s supposed to be doing. That’s flaky too!

How's she getting on, @Cheesecakeistheanswer?