Rising High School Senior just decided to extend his trip...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS, 18 as of the end of last month, has been in Sweden with his girlfriend and her extended family for the last ten days. His plane ticket, which he did pay for himself, had him returning next week (a two week trip). Just now, he informed us that he changed it and he and the girlfriend won't be coming back until the evening before the first day of school (we aren't in DC) which is adding another six days to his trip.

I am angry on so many levels! He should not have made this decision without asking our permission and I have no clue where he and the girlfriend are going to be for that extra five days and who - if anyone - will be with them. I am angry at myself for letting him go in the first place. I am angry that he is starting his senior year with jet-lag. I am just angry.

Am I overreacting? DH is furious, too, so I cannot bounce this off him. TIA

Your boy is probably in her bed right now. Lucky boy. Takes after his dad!!

Um, what? How would you know this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Europeans are more laid back about sexual habits among teenagers. It's a generalisation, of course, but it's also true. 18 year old boy and his girlfriend? Of course they're having a lot of sex.

As it is, I'm not sure what the big deal is that he decided to extend the trip by an extra six days. He's 18, about to go off to college. I can see being upset that the amount of time left with the son before he leaves for college is now substantially reduced, but that's life and there's always holidays and weekends.

Read the thread he's not in college. He's a high school senior.

Not sure why this thread is deating teen sex habits, but okay I've been told European kids regularly start having sex at 12 and 13 years old is that something we should model?

"You've been told..." Yeah, that is scientific. You sound like trump - just repeating things you "heard".

Stupid people bring everything back to Trump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Europeans are more laid back about sexual habits among teenagers. It's a generalisation, of course, but it's also true. 18 year old boy and his girlfriend? Of course they're having a lot of sex.

As it is, I'm not sure what the big deal is that he decided to extend the trip by an extra six days. He's 18, about to go off to college. I can see being upset that the amount of time left with the son before he leaves for college is now substantially reduced, but that's life and there's always holidays and weekends.

Np: he's going to be a senior in HS, not going to college. That being said, I don't understand the uproar over what he did - he sounds like a great kid!

I know, are all these people expecting mommy and daddy to approve all of his plans when he is in college? Maybe an18 yo in college is somehow magically more responsible than an 18 hs senior. They sound like a lot of control freaks that prize controlling their young adult kids over displayed individual responsibility.

PP: I agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Europeans are more laid back about sexual habits among teenagers. It's a generalisation, of course, but it's also true. 18 year old boy and his girlfriend? Of course they're having a lot of sex.

As it is, I'm not sure what the big deal is that he decided to extend the trip by an extra six days. He's 18, about to go off to college. I can see being upset that the amount of time left with the son before he leaves for college is now substantially reduced, but that's life and there's always holidays and weekends.

Read the thread he's not in college. He's a high school senior.

Not sure why this thread is deating teen sex habits, but okay I've been told European kids regularly start having sex at 12 and 13 years old is that something we should model?

"You've been told..." Yeah, that is scientific. You sound like trump - just repeating things you "heard".

Stupid people bring everything back to Trump

Stop, PP - you are embarrassing yourself.

[Anonymous]

Young cat.

Brings back glorious memories about everything that is good and natural and holy In this world

[Anonymous]

I will at least cut the car privilege, will not support any future international trip (funding by himself is fine).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consequences of red shirting your 5 year old boy for kindergarten. Now you have an "adult" highschool student.

That was my first thought. If I were OP I would be proud to have a son that saved up his money to travel abroad and is savvy enough to figure out the logistics of changing his plane ticket. Your son is going to go away to college next year and never want to come home because you and your husband are being so controlling. Most 18 year olds are leaving home for college now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will at least cut the car privilege, will not support any future international trip (funding by himself is fine).

OP said he paid for this trip himself.

I just don't get the big problem here. I am sure he hasn't got a clue why anyone would be so up in arms about it.

[Anonymous]

Hmmmmmm. Let me see. What would be more fun. Spending another week in a cool country like Sweden, with my cool Swedish girlfriend, or a week bored at my parents house in the DC suburbs. And did I mention saying goodbye to my Swedish girlfriend is going to be really sad??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay - how was the boy being inconsiderate in extending his own trip? I honestly don't understand - is he missing something that his parents desperately wanted him to attend or do? I am assuming the extra days are not coming out of his parents' pocket here but I could be wrong.

What is the issue exactly with an 18 year old extending his trip by five or six days?

Totally agree. Seems like a huge overreaction on the part of the parents. Is he generally a good kid? He's having a great time traveling in Europe with what sounds like a serious girlfriend. Good for him! I had many friends at 18 taking much of the summer to backpack Europe and they were fine- but lots of hooking up randomly occurred. I'd celebrate the fact he's enjoying traveling and is showing some independence. I think the latter is what's bothering you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will at least cut the car privilege, will not support any future international trip (funding by himself is fine).

OP said he paid for this trip himself.

I just don't get the big problem here. I am sure he hasn't got a clue why anyone would be so up in arms about it.

What??? Seriously that's weird that you're punishing him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consequences of red shirting your 5 year old boy for kindergarten. Now you have an "adult" highschool student.

That was my first thought. If I were OP I would be proud to have a son that saved up his money to travel abroad and is savvy enough to figure out the logistics of changing his plane ticket. Your son is going to go away to college next year and never want to come home because you and your husband are being so controlling. Most 18 year olds are leaving home for college now.

Plus 1000 on second poster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will at least cut the car privilege, will not support any future international trip (funding by himself is fine).

OP said he paid for this trip himself.

I just don't get the big problem here. I am sure he hasn't got a clue why anyone would be so up in arms about it.

What??? Seriously that's weird that you're punishing him.

The only consequence OP should give to her son for changing plans without consulting her, is to not be available to pick him up at the airport because she had other plans for that day. If she has other plans.

[Anonymous]

Why would he need his mom to get home.
He got himself to Sweden and back. I'm sure he can
Get an uber.

[Anonymous]

Has he made it back safely, Op? I'll bet he had the time of his life.

Hope his senior year gets off to a good start.