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Teenagers

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

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Original poster

would you let your teen go to a rock festival?

40 replies

Slartybartfast · 20/03/2010 23:44

a 3 day one?
with a family you hadnt met?

make me feel bad you know you want to, that we are not letting ds 15 go

OP posts:

CameraLady · 21/03/2010 16:34

When i was a teenager my mum borrowed a camper and took me, my 3 siblings and 5 of our teenage mates to Glastonbury, maybe 93/94...
Any adult thought she was crazy but us kids had the best time ever. I was reminiscing with one of my friends who came along that year and now we have kids we agree that my mother was crazy to take a van load of teenagers to a music festival, we wouldn't volunteer for the job, but we're so glad she did. It was one of the high lights of our teenage years.

SolidGoldBrass · 21/03/2010 19:00

If your H insists on stopping your DS going without even meeting the other family, then your H is in the wrong and setting up a lot of problems for the future. Because it's unfair and unreasonable to prohibit someone from doing something when you don't have all the facts, and this sort of autocratic-because-I-say-so parenting is very likely to backfire with teenagers.

iwastooearlytobeayummymummy · 21/03/2010 21:43

DD2 and DD1 went to Latitude when DD2 was 14 and DD1 17
They both took friends and camped.
However DH and I decided to stay in Aldeburgh for the weekend with dc 3 and 4 just in case as we were only about 15 miles away.
The whole weekend was a brilliant success on all counts for DC 1 & 2 and us and the bubs.

Since then DD2 hand DD1 have returned to Latitude and DD2 has been to Glasto

Like all these situations it all depends on your own child and how much you can trust them

upahill · 21/03/2010 22:14

Well I was 16 and went with a boyfriend to the Reading festival from the North West of England on a back of a motorbike!
So going with another family seems pretty Ok to me!.

I would LOVE my DS to go to a festival. I can't even get him to go to a gig!!

mumblechum · 22/03/2010 07:56

DS went with his mate's family to a two day one last year BUT I know the family as they're in the same village.

Having said that I would much rather let him go with a family I hadn't met than go just with friends.

TBH at 15 your ds is almost grown up, he'll be with adults at least part of the time and I think your dh needs to let go a bit.

16 year olds can leave school, join the army, get married. One year isn't that much different.

LollipopViolet · 22/03/2010 22:40

I'm off to Sonisphere myself (a festival virgin at 20 ) with 2 mates and 1 of their brothers. Can't wait but I know my mum is worried too One of my mates went last year and said there wasn't any trouble to be fair. I expect to come back from the festival a changed woman, is it true they can be life altering experiences? Aaargh you've got me all excited now!

Original poster

Slartybartfast · 01/04/2010 22:38

bumping this,
unsure whether i will get any further replies at this late hour.

the friend in question is actually a girl friend,
if that makes any difference?
been seeing her ooh, couple of months i think

OP posts:

HesterPrynne · 01/04/2010 22:51

How mature a 15yo is he Slarty? There's such a huge range going by the friends of my DDs. I agreed to let DD1, then 15 go to Reading with a group of friends and one set of parents - the plans fell through though.

But I can imagine not letting DD2 go at the same age, not unless she undergoes major changes in the next year!

A weekend in a tent with girlfriends' parents, I'm not sure that's a reason to say no!

Original poster

Slartybartfast · 01/04/2010 22:53

thanks for responding.
yes, i spose he is pretty mature. no idea tbh
and pplans to share the tent with the gf

OP posts:

Original poster

Slartybartfast · 02/04/2010 00:11

you all asleep?

OP posts:

ravenAK · 02/04/2010 00:24

OK, Rock Festival, with another family, no problem. Much better than with 6 lairy mates in a single sex group!

I'd be OK assuming I didn't have reason not to like/trust the other family - I'd want to meet them first probably.

Sharing tent with gf is a totally separate issue. My instinct's saying probably innocent - surprising numbers of teens very sensible & not in a rush, IME as a secondary teacher - but you do need to have a word about condoms I think.

As in: We trust you to make sensible choices, that's why we're letting you go away with Jenny & her family. We'd really prefer that those choices didn't involve having sex at your age BUT you'd better have these. Just in case.

Honestly though, it sounds tame enough. He'll enjoy the music, appreciate the freedom, & if he does end up having a bit more early sexual experience than you'd really like - well, it's in safe surroundings.

Original poster

Slartybartfast · 02/04/2010 09:29

just got up to further ocmment. great, relaly appreciated

OP posts:

webwiz · 02/04/2010 12:30

I would just question why the other family would be so keen for their 15 year old daughter to bring her boyfriend and let her share a tent with him. Most parents are trying to prevent this scenario rather than encourage it. Are they assuming that because they are there as well nothing will happen or are they a bit chilled out by the whole thing?

Original poster

Slartybartfast · 02/04/2010 13:17

no idea,
have yet to meet them,
ds will have to organise this before he puts down deposit

OP posts:

rose1927 · 07/05/2010 11:08

Yes Yes Yes, festivals and gigs are really safe and good fun, you rarely have any trouble at them. I encourage my teenagers to go to gigs and festivals.

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