My 15 y.o. teen claims EVERYONE UBERs in her school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the teens I know use Uber but not alone.

It's a good skill and once my kids were a little older and faced with dealing with their driver drinking at a party they just get an Uber.

My son went to a concert and missed the last metro out of the city and took an Uber.

My 17 yo had an official visit to a college and he flew to the city and ubered to the interview/meeting.

I think you are really missing a chance to tech you child a skill.

Wow, don't parents drive their kids or let them use their cars? If you child missed the metro, you go get them. If your child has an college is it, you take them. The lack of parenting makes me wonder why people even have kids?

Teaching your kid to Uber is not a skill. You go on the app and request a car. Teaching your child to be responsible and call you and you get them is a better skill as its having a relationship they know they can count on you. Teaching your child public transportation is a skill (and there is an app for that too).

Nobody takes their kids on official visits with an overnight.

I went with him for the unofficial visit and we ubered and stayed in an airbnb.

It would have taken me an hour to get to the venue which means my child would have been standing on the street for 1 hour waiting for me instead of 5 minutes for an Uber.

You are going to fly to your kids college every time they go back rent a car and drive them to their dorm and then fly home. Wow! That is some parenting.!

All of a sudden we don't parent because our kids have a little independence.

The lady doth protest too much me thinks.

[Anonymous]

Cab drivers undergo background checks and the cars are inspected for safety. They also have commercial insurance for the driver and the car. I am no lover of the cab industry, but there are regulations around it to protect the public. Uber is self-regulated, and one can assume that this is done in a way that benefits Uber, not the public.

Also, the minimum age for an Uber rider is 18. Any driver who picks up a minor is already breaking their rules.

I would not take Uber myself, much less allow a minor to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank god I grew up in the 80's. My wonderful parents would tell us to be in by dark. No cell phones, no Uber, no social media.

Teenagers have it rough these days.

Op here. This is how I grew up. Most of my friends were raped in the age 15-17.

That's how I grew up too, and as far as I know, none of them were raped. There, now we have two anecdotes. Also, how would cell phones, Uber, and social media have prevented this?

[Anonymous]

The question is not do we let our kids Uber or not and does that decision make us a good or bad parent.

Yes, many, many, many kids uber. Your daughter is not lying about this.

Do you refuse to let her uber. That is a family decision. It does not make you a better or worse parent. The ubering kids do not have a better or worse parent.

I don't let my kids fly in their friend's private planes with the dad as the pilot. That is my own weird thing that I don't like. If you don't like uber, own it and make a rule against it. You are not going to get a bunch of parents to back you since obviously most of her friends uber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:O.k. that logo is probably readily available. If your kids are doing this please talk to them about verifying ID before they get in the car.

They would be just so easy for a creeper to target.

Yes. Your children need to learn to be responsible Uber users just like every other skill you teach them, you need to teach them how to Uber.

Why? My kids drive.

As a parent, I recognize the concerns with Uber, but a teenage driver isn't a safer solution.

Kids need to learn to drive and they need to learn how to Uber.

It's the obnoxious insistence that everyone at school Ubers all the time. No they don't. Maybe they do in an emergency (car broke down, need to get to school) or they might uber to/from a concert every now and then. But calling uber to go to a friend's house, the mall, Starbuck's....that's just silly to me.

I didn't say they Uber all the time. But they do Uber. oP's daughter is already ubering.

Yes teens Uber.

Call me a control freak. But if my 15 year old wants to go somewhere, he needs MY express permission - not his friend's - MINE.

This. I will teach my kids to use Uber/Lyft (I generally use Lyft) but they don't need it at 15.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the teens I know use Uber but not alone.

It's a good skill and once my kids were a little older and faced with dealing with their driver drinking at a party they just get an Uber.

My son went to a concert and missed the last metro out of the city and took an Uber.

My 17 yo had an official visit to a college and he flew to the city and ubered to the interview/meeting.

I think you are really missing a chance to tech you child a skill.

Wow, don't parents drive their kids or let them use their cars? If you child missed the metro, you go get them. If your child has an college is it, you take them. The lack of parenting makes me wonder why people even have kids?

Teaching your kid to Uber is not a skill. You go on the app and request a car. Teaching your child to be responsible and call you and you get them is a better skill as its having a relationship they know they can count on you. Teaching your child public transportation is a skill (and there is an app for that too).

Nobody takes their kids on official visits with an overnight.

I went with him for the unofficial visit and we ubered and stayed in an airbnb.

It would have taken me an hour to get to the venue which means my child would have been standing on the street for 1 hour waiting for me instead of 5 minutes for an Uber.

You are going to fly to your kids college every time they go back rent a car and drive them to their dorm and then fly home. Wow! That is some parenting.!

All of a sudden we don't parent because our kids have a little independence.

The lady doth protest too much me thinks.

O.k. How long exactly does it take a reasonably intelligent teenager to learn the skill of Ubering? How many times do they need to use that app before they are efficient with it? How hard is it to figure out how to use the app?

I'm going to guess that after one time of using the app, ordering the Uber and riding the Uber the kid knows how to use Uber, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank god I grew up in the 80's. My wonderful parents would tell us to be in by dark. No cell phones, no Uber, no social media.

Teenagers have it rough these days.

Op here. This is how I grew up. Most of my friends were raped in the age 15-17.

That's how I grew up too, and as far as I know, none of them were raped. There, now we have two anecdotes. Also, how would cell phones, Uber, and social media have prevented this?

+1 Now instead of riding their bikes or getting a ride from a parent they are ubering around to friends' houses, to the mall, etc. I don't know that this is safer...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the teens I know use Uber but not alone.

It's a good skill and once my kids were a little older and faced with dealing with their driver drinking at a party they just get an Uber.

My son went to a concert and missed the last metro out of the city and took an Uber.

My 17 yo had an official visit to a college and he flew to the city and ubered to the interview/meeting.

I think you are really missing a chance to tech you child a skill.

Wow, don't parents drive their kids or let them use their cars? If you child missed the metro, you go get them. If your child has an college is it, you take them. The lack of parenting makes me wonder why people even have kids?

Teaching your kid to Uber is not a skill. You go on the app and request a car. Teaching your child to be responsible and call you and you get them is a better skill as its having a relationship they know they can count on you. Teaching your child public transportation is a skill (and there is an app for that too).

Nobody takes their kids on official visits with an overnight.

I went with him for the unofficial visit and we ubered and stayed in an airbnb.

It would have taken me an hour to get to the venue which means my child would have been standing on the street for 1 hour waiting for me instead of 5 minutes for an Uber.

You are going to fly to your kids college every time they go back rent a car and drive them to their dorm and then fly home. Wow! That is some parenting.!

All of a sudden we don't parent because our kids have a little independence.

The lady doth protest too much me thinks.

O.k. How long exactly does it take a reasonably intelligent teenager to learn the skill of Ubering? How many times do they need to use that app before they are efficient with it? How hard is it to figure out how to use the app?

I'm going to guess that after one time of using the app, ordering the Uber and riding the Uber the kid knows how to use Uber, right?

it's not "how to use the app" it's about how to uber safely. Just like using a bus, or the metro, or walking in the city, driving in the city, driving on the beltway. It's something kids need to learn.

I don't know, when I was at the airport it was very different figuring out my driver and where he was than when they pick me up at my house.

When I was at a 5 way intersection I realized, hey 5 way intersection, not the best idea go down to a safe place for pickup.

When I did uber carpool i saved money but not enough for the extra time.

When I ubered to an area with no reception I realized ubering to a vineyard, not a great idea.

It's not about using the app.

Listen, if you don't want your kids to uber, don't let them uber. But many kids do uber and they just might uber behind your back and not have the benefit of a parent's guidance on safety issues.

Also, many kids end up at drinking parties and it is easier to uber out than to get your driver to leave. It's easier to uber out of a bad situation than to call mom and dad especially when you are 18+ or at college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank god I grew up in the 80's. My wonderful parents would tell us to be in by dark. No cell phones, no Uber, no social media.

Teenagers have it rough these days.

Op here. This is how I grew up. Most of my friends were raped in the age 15-17.

That's how I grew up too, and as far as I know, none of them were raped. There, now we have two anecdotes. Also, how would cell phones, Uber, and social media have prevented this?

+1 Now instead of riding their bikes or getting a ride from a parent they are ubering around to friends' houses, to the mall, etc. I don't know that this is safer...

No not instead of but in addition to walking, riding their bike, taking metro, taking a Ride On.

My kids ride their bikes/walk/bus/metro and uber... if it is pouring rain or if it is too far or the metro does not go there, they might uber. or if there is construction on the shoulder (this happened on the street between our house and the pool) they ubered once because I was visiting a sick family member.

I drive them 1000/1001 times. But every blue moon they uber.

Why do you picture kids raised like wolves ubering everywhere when we are talking about 10x a year tops.

Also, my 16 year old ubering was way less expensive than adding him to my car insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank god I grew up in the 80's. My wonderful parents would tell us to be in by dark. No cell phones, no Uber, no social media.

Teenagers have it rough these days.

Op here. This is how I grew up. Most of my friends were raped in the age 15-17.

That's how I grew up too, and as far as I know, none of them were raped. There, now we have two anecdotes. Also, how would cell phones, Uber, and social media have prevented this?

+1 Now instead of riding their bikes or getting a ride from a parent they are ubering around to friends' houses, to the mall, etc. I don't know that this is safer...

No not instead of but in addition to walking, riding their bike, taking metro, taking a Ride On.

My kids ride their bikes/walk/bus/metro and uber... if it is pouring rain or if it is too far or the metro does not go there, they might uber. or if there is construction on the shoulder (this happened on the street between our house and the pool) they ubered once because I was visiting a sick family member.

I drive them 1000/1001 times. But every blue moon they uber.

Why do you picture kids raised like wolves ubering everywhere when we are talking about 10x a year tops.

Also, my 16 year old ubering was way less expensive than adding him to my car insurance.

eh, Op was talking about her daughter's friends ubering over to the mall during break time at one of their activities. And other posters were saying that polite parents offer to pitch in on this sort of ubering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the teens I know use Uber but not alone.

It's a good skill and once my kids were a little older and faced with dealing with their driver drinking at a party they just get an Uber.

My son went to a concert and missed the last metro out of the city and took an Uber.

My 17 yo had an official visit to a college and he flew to the city and ubered to the interview/meeting.

I think you are really missing a chance to tech you child a skill.

Wow, don't parents drive their kids or let them use their cars? If you child missed the metro, you go get them. If your child has an college is it, you take them. The lack of parenting makes me wonder why people even have kids?

Teaching your kid to Uber is not a skill. You go on the app and request a car. Teaching your child to be responsible and call you and you get them is a better skill as its having a relationship they know they can count on you. Teaching your child public transportation is a skill (and there is an app for that too).

Nobody takes their kids on official visits with an overnight.

I went with him for the unofficial visit and we ubered and stayed in an airbnb.

It would have taken me an hour to get to the venue which means my child would have been standing on the street for 1 hour waiting for me instead of 5 minutes for an Uber.

You are going to fly to your kids college every time they go back rent a car and drive them to their dorm and then fly home. Wow! That is some parenting.!

All of a sudden we don't parent because our kids have a little independence.

The lady doth protest too much me thinks.

O.k. How long exactly does it take a reasonably intelligent teenager to learn the skill of Ubering? How many times do they need to use that app before they are efficient with it? How hard is it to figure out how to use the app?

I'm going to guess that after one time of using the app, ordering the Uber and riding the Uber the kid knows how to use Uber, right?

it's not "how to use the app" it's about how to uber safely. Just like using a bus, or the metro, or walking in the city, driving in the city, driving on the beltway. It's something kids need to learn.

I don't know, when I was at the airport it was very different figuring out my driver and where he was than when they pick me up at my house.

When I was at a 5 way intersection I realized, hey 5 way intersection, not the best idea go down to a safe place for pickup.

When I did uber carpool i saved money but not enough for the extra time.

When I ubered to an area with no reception I realized ubering to a vineyard, not a great idea.

It's not about using the app.

Listen, if you don't want your kids to uber, don't let them uber. But many kids do uber and they just might uber behind your back and not have the benefit of a parent's guidance on safety issues.

Also, many kids end up at drinking parties and it is easier to uber out than to get your driver to leave. It's easier to uber out of a bad situation than to call mom and dad especially when you are 18+ or at college.

I think that some of the things that aren't too obvious to a young teen (like the 5 way intersection and where/where not to wait for a ride. Where/where not to uber) will become very obvious to a kid once they have been driving themselves around for a while.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I can see how uber could be useful. If my kid had a dental appt and I couldn't pick them up for some reason, I can see sending uber. If my kid was at a concert 30 minutes away and his/her ride home fell through, I can absolutely see sending an uber to pick them up and get them home rather than wait around outside a concert venue for 30 minutes while I drove over to get them.

Not saying I would *never* use uber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank god I grew up in the 80's. My wonderful parents would tell us to be in by dark. No cell phones, no Uber, no social media.

Teenagers have it rough these days.

Op here. This is how I grew up. Most of my friends were raped in the age 15-17.

OP here again. None of them reported.

That's very sad, but I agree with OP.

[Anonymous]

Nope, teen daughter does not uber.

[Anonymous]

Our freshman ubered from the dinner where we took pictures to the dance. Then we pick them up from the dance.

It was fun.