Does your teen use rideshare apps? Were you hesitant?

[Anonymous]

How old were your kids when they started using Uber/ Lyft? What has your experience been?

My daughter is kind of a head-turner. She gets lots of unwanted attention from men, and I think it's pretty plausible she'd find herself in the car of one of those men who make sexual gestures and comments to her on the street. But she's babysitting a lot, and the parents often offer to uber her home at night.

[Anonymous]

My 16 DD does, but always with friends or BF. We’re not comfortable with her being alone in a stranger’s car.

[Anonymous]

My 16-year-old DD uses Uber Teen but only with friends. She is not allowed to use it by herself.

[Anonymous]

No, drive your own kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old were your kids when they started using Uber/ Lyft? What has your experience been?

My daughter is kind of a head-turner. She gets lots of unwanted attention from men, and I think it's pretty plausible she'd find herself in the car of one of those men who make sexual gestures and comments to her on the street. But she's babysitting a lot, and the parents often offer to uber her home at night.

Less conventionally attractive teen girls also get harassed by males. It's not about looks, but the vulnerability of youth. Do not let her ride alone with strangers.

[Anonymous]

Son yes, daughter no. She looked 23+ by age 14, and in today's world, it's just not safe/smart.

[Anonymous]

No I don’t let my kids use ride apps. It’s public transportation or they drive their car. (My two teens share a car)

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone. It's helpful to know that I'm not being unreasonable here!

So maybe this is a question for the folks with younger kids, but... what about getting the babysitter home? I was always driven home from babysitting gigs. When we had teen babysitters, we drove or walked them home, and we offered to do so for the 20-somethings. My daughter sits for a half-dozen families, and Uber or parental pickup is the universal expectation. None of them have ever offered to get her home, even though they are very generous otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone. It's helpful to know that I'm not being unreasonable here!

So maybe this is a question for the folks with younger kids, but... what about getting the babysitter home? I was always driven home from babysitting gigs. When we had teen babysitters, we drove or walked them home, and we offered to do so for the 20-somethings. My daughter sits for a half-dozen families, and Uber or parental pickup is the universal expectation. None of them have ever offered to get her home, even though they are very generous otherwise.

Go pick her up. It’s a job. Not their responsibility.

[Anonymous]

I think my girl was 15 or 16 when I started letting her go by herself or with friends. Obviously I felt better about her being with friends, but that wasn't always possible.

I always told her to get in the car and then say out loud into her phone "Ok I'm in the car, the license plate is {whatever] and you can track my ride." That way the driver knows someone is expecting her and someone can track what car she's being driven in.

I always wait outside for her to pull up. And she knows not to answer "Are you going home?" or to say "No, a relative's house" but to never say yes or to answer what school she goes to.

[Anonymous]

Alone we made them call us during their ride.

If The family wants to Uber her home. They need to let her have a friend with her.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t even think they could start an account until they were 18. That’s when my son started using it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone. It's helpful to know that I'm not being unreasonable here!

So maybe this is a question for the folks with younger kids, but... what about getting the babysitter home? I was always driven home from babysitting gigs. When we had teen babysitters, we drove or walked them home, and we offered to do so for the 20-somethings. My daughter sits for a half-dozen families, and Uber or parental pickup is the universal expectation. None of them have ever offered to get her home, even though they are very generous otherwise.

We have kids who are babysat by teenage girls and DH walks them home. He uses the opportunity to take the dog out one last time before we go to bed. I asked him once what he talks to the girls about on their walks home and he said "Music or food."

[Anonymous]

My 16 did starting at 14/15 (freshman year) but always with friends. She’s also a frequent male target (Barbie type looks) so I don’t know how I feel about her riding alone. She drives now though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone. It's helpful to know that I'm not being unreasonable here!

So maybe this is a question for the folks with younger kids, but... what about getting the babysitter home? I was always driven home from babysitting gigs. When we had teen babysitters, we drove or walked them home, and we offered to do so for the 20-somethings. My daughter sits for a half-dozen families, and Uber or parental pickup is the universal expectation. None of them have ever offered to get her home, even though they are very generous otherwise.

My kids only ever babysit in the neighborhood for this reason, I mostly have picked up but sometimes they’d bring home. Or walk, bc we have a lot of kids on our actual block (so easy!). A handful of times it’s been 20m away bc I knew the mom, and they got her home and I dropped off, or vice versa. But late night babysitting is almost always right in our neighborhood