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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Gap Year Travels

8 replies

Nix32 · 19/04/2026 15:26

DS finishes A levels this summer and is planning on some travelling - a month on a volunteer program and a month in a different country working.

All very exciting, but also terrifying. How do you cope?

OP posts:
Betterbyfar · 19/04/2026 15:27

How’s he funding? Sounds expensive!!

HighlightsInHerHair · 19/04/2026 15:31

Be Real/Instagram and track my phone. And the very occasional text hone call and a reasonable number of texts. The time goes by and they come home. Warn them about motorbikes and home made alcohol. Very exciting.

For funding mine worked fir a good number of months first.

HighlightsInHerHair · 19/04/2026 15:47

*Very occasional phone call
*for
need to proof read!

Nix32 · 19/04/2026 16:00

@Betterbyfar The job he’ll get paid for, the volunteer program will be paid for from his savings.

@HighlightsInHerHairIt’s the dangers that terrify me! So many things to warn him about! Did yours benefit from it?

OP posts:
mumonthehill · 19/04/2026 16:04

Ds went to New Zealand. We did not use or want a tracking app. He messaged most days just a hi etc and did d a video call once a week. He found a job etc. he was there for 5 months. He was totally independent, made his own choices and traveled around. It was hard having him so far away but we got used to it and he had a fantastic time. You just have to trust them, make sure they have good insurance and believe all will be ok.

Betterbyfar · 19/04/2026 16:17

I’m impressed an 18 year old has got paid employment for a month in a foreign country!

Apearlybum · 19/04/2026 19:49

What paid employment has he secured?

HighlightsInHerHair · 20/04/2026 07:45

Yes he had a fantastic time and had to be independent. I guess when something happens to a backpacker it gets in the news and scares us but it’s rare and things happen in the UK too.

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