What would you do?

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by Janet

Mandy you are so much braver than I am. My son is 15 too, but I don't know about my son going to a concert just yet. Closest concert would be an hour away. If it was with a bunch of friends and an adult driving...than maybe. I wish I wasn't so overprotective, but I am so afraid of the nuts out there on the road. My son doesn't seem to mind when I tell him I don't think it's a great idea. The other day he wanted to go spend the night with a friend. I said okay, no problem. Then he told me later that he and his friend were going to spend the night at the home of a 21 year old playing videos games. I had to change my mind and tell him no, that if he was going to his friends house and staying there, then fine, but a 21 year old needed to be with his own age group. Why would a 21 year old want to hang with 15 year olds for?

Janet, no my son's friends parents are going with them to the concert sunday afternoon. There's NO WAY i would allow him to go out on he's own in this crazy world we live in at this age!!
They are going to watch local talents, and he's friends parents bought the tickets, the mother phoned me yesterday to ask me if they could take Collin (my son) with them.

[Kimberley]

Have the party earlier in the day and then after the party, he can go to the concert.

[Jlynn]

I've got to agree with most everyone here. Let him go, but he needs to agree to go see Grandma at some other point. May as well cross this bridge now, it's not going to be the last time!

BTW, hope he has a great time at the concert!

[Mandy]

Thanks girls He will go visit my Mom today, and give her the pressie he bought her, and he will explain to her that he won't be there tomorrow.
I have already told her between nose and lips that he was invited to the concert, and she said," awwww let him go, he will enjoy it". But i want him to tell her himself.

It may sound like i'm making a big deal outta this, but my parents have returned to Holland just 3 months ago, and this is her first BD here, so my son has never been with he's grandma for her BD

[Janet]

Originally Posted by Mandy

Janet, no my son's friends parents are going with them to the concert sunday afternoon. There's NO WAY i would allow him to go out on he's own in this crazy world we live in at this age!!
They are going to watch local talents, and he's friends parents bought the tickets, the mother phoned me yesterday to ask me if they could take Collin (my son) with them.

Oh good!!! I know I'm a little overprotective, but then really started questioning myself. I'm glad you feel the same way..so now I can relax a little bit about my overprotectiveness. It's just too scary out in the world today. He will have his drivers license in January and I am just dreading this so much. He keeps talking about how great it will be like he will be driving all the time. I had to remind him that he can still ride the bus (save gas and money) unless he has something going on after school. And that he's going to have to have a part-time job to help pay for whatever vehicle he can afford with gas and insurance. He has a good head on his shoulders, he just needs reminded of things once in a while.

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by Janet

Oh good!!! I know I'm a little overprotective, but then really started questioning myself. I'm glad you feel the same way..so now I can relax a little bit about my overprotectiveness. It's just too scary out in the world today. He will have his drivers license in January and I am just dreading this so much. He keeps talking about how great it will be like he will be driving all the time. I had to remind him that he can still ride the bus (save gas and money) unless he has something going on after school. And that he's going to have to have a part-time job to help pay for whatever vehicle he can afford with gas and insurance. He has a good head on his shoulders, he just needs reminded of things once in a while.

They all need reminders from time to time girl
One thing i'm very grateful for is that in Europe, kids can start learning for their drivers licence at the age of 18.

A man at the garage was telling us that he's friend has a son, who also just started driving, he's father warned him after he got he's first speeding fine, that after the second speeding fine he would get he's car back in a box shape.
Sure enough a week later he got he's second speeding fine, so the father took he's car to the scrap yard and had it crumbled into a box. He told he's son, he rather see he's car in a box then having to bring him away in a box.

[Janet]

Originally Posted by Mandy

They all need reminders from time to time girl
One thing i'm very grateful for is that in Europe, kids can start learning for their drivers licence at the age of 18.

A man at the garage was telling us that he's friend has a son, who also just started driving, he's father warned him after he got he's first speeding fine, that after the second speeding fine he would get he's car back in a box shape.
Sure enough a week later he got he's second speeding fine, so the father took he's car to the scrap yard and had it crumbled into a box. He told he's son, he rather see he's car in a box then having to bring him away in a box.

I sure wish they had to wait here until they were 18. I know we can make them wait, but it's hard. They look forward to it from the time they are 13 I think.

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by Janet

I sure wish they had to wait here until they were 18. I know we can make them wait, but it's hard. They look forward to it from the time they are 13 I think.

They do i know ... our son is already telling us what kind of car he wants. All we do is giggle and tell him to WORK HARD and find a GOOD paying job LOL

[Janet]

That's what we tell ours. We just won't be able to afford to buy him a car. He's going to have to do that on his own. We will try to help him when we can, but it's mostly his responsibilty. It is so hard because a lot of his friends are telling him their parents are buying them a car. I just don't feel it teaches them any responibility. They need to know the value of the dollar and the value of their vehicle and the maintenance...etc. His very best friend informed him yesterday that his parents bought him a PT Cruiser for $8000 off of ebay. They are going this weekend to Pennyslvania to pick it up. He doesn't even get his license until May of next year. I just don't get some of these parents!! Most would think I'm just envious of them being able to do that for their son, but it's more than that really. It's not teaching them anything at all. My son seems to understand, but at this age..he still can't help being envious.

[Mandy]

We used to give give give, and think to ourselves "awww why not we only have 1" but we have so come back from thinking that, simply because kids need to learn the value of things, and they need to learn that it does NOT come all that easy, how hard they have to work to be able to buy the things they want. That's the only way they will start appreciating what they have.

My son get's a weekly allowence (pocket money) if he goes to movies with friends or he goes and does other things, or he needs parts for he's RC cars, he has to do it with he's own money.
He is now looking for a part time job, for extra's because we don't supply them anymore!