DS just spent a half hour wandering the mall, making him late for tutoring

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP. It was a holiday, he had other commitments (as did we) for the rest of the day, so this was his two-hour window of friend time. Going to the mall afterward wouldn't have worked for us, otherwise we would have suggested it. And I'd feel terrible just making him sit at home because he had a commitment later that afternoon - something he already gets bummed by. I just wish he checked his phone. The alarm is a great idea and we'll do it next time.

To the person saying kids roam the malls like wild animals - uh, seriously?

I just posted that my kid will complain about going to tutoring today.

2 hours is relatively short and it is easy to get lost if you don’t go to the mall often. I don’t do mall pick up but I often pick up from school events and sports and waiting 30 min is the norm. My 14yo just started high school and has played 2 sports so far. Almost every time I pick him up, I am waiting 30 min. Practice ends. He has his phone in his backpack. Practice goes over. Even when I reach him, it can take him 10 minutes to just get out to my car.

[Anonymous]

The obvious natural consequence here is that next time he has to be with you for an hour before tutoring in case he gets “lost.”

[Anonymous]

He didn’t want to go to tutoring and he was ignoring your calls, OP. Now you know given the opportunity the choice that he will make, so don’t give him this privilege and opportunity next time.