Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tnx.... so send them earlier? Like 6pm? Drive them? Thoughts on uber....

I would not do Uber for that age. Drop him off and pick him up, like the parents of yore did.

Parents of yore did not spend their days chauffeuring their children. That's because children of yore took the streetcar. There's no streetcar now, but there are buses. If they're old enough to hang out in Georgetown by themselves, they're old enough to get themselves there.

That's what I did when I was 14 (and 15, 16, etc.), starting in 8th grade. We'd go to Gtown and go to arcades, Commander Salamander, Georgetown Park Mall, etc. Gave me a great feeling of independence.

Anonymous wrote:By 14 I was taking the metro or bus by myself to hang out in Georgetown.

Me, too. And taking the 30s buses from Friendship Heights.

By 14 I was taking the metro or bus by myself to hang out in Georgetown.

Agree with daytime only. Metro to Dupont and walk. Bus home up Wisconsin to Mazza.

Mom of an almost 16 year old DC kid here:
They can go during the day, but need to take the bus. That's how kids can get around easily. He can get a Metro bus app, and the two of you can figure what routes to take. You can drop him off at Tenleytown where they can take a bus down Wisconsin.

Uber is for when there are no other options. For example, our son has basketball practice. If we couldn't pick him up and it was late where we didn't want him taking a bus or metro (too far to access), then we'd use Uber. Hanging out in Georgetown with friends is not a situation where Uber is practical.
Again, they can take a bus to see a late afternoon movie and then get a bite to eat afterwards. Home by 7pm.

I agree re: afternoon. I don't know... just to hang out. But I like the idea of the metro to dupont and walking. He has taken uber before with other kids on their accounts. I am not ready to get him one. I am from NYC and took public transportation at his age, but I understand it's more of a shlep here.

I think an afternoon there is fine. He should take the metro to Dupont and walk. He should be figuring these things out.

Anonymous wrote:Tnx.... so send them earlier? Like 6pm? Drive them? Thoughts on uber....

Has he taken Uber before? I'd want the first time to be together, so I could give him a few tips like checking the license plate # before I got in.

To do what? Movie? Lunch? Shop?

Anonymous wrote:Tnx.... so send them earlier? Like 6pm? Drive them? Thoughts on uber....

I would not do Uber for that age. Drop him off and pick him up, like the parents of yore did.

For the first time, I would NOT allow it to be at night. Lunch time to around 3-4pm.

DD is 14 and she always has to be home by sundown (8:30 in the summer) and can not wander around a shopping area at night. She has to be home or at a friend's house.

Tnx.... so send them earlier? Like 6pm? Drive them? Thoughts on uber....

It depends on the peer group, but that's about the age when I started letting DS do things like that.

However, 9:30 is late from my perspective for an initial trip, unless there's a specific plan like a movie that ends then. Maybe 9:00?

We live in the Chevy Chase area. I guess Bethesda is getting boring for them. Now they want to go to Georgetown. Do any of you let your almost 14 year olds do that in a group? Do you drive and pick them up or uber? He doesn't have uber, but a coulee of his friends do... Thx for any info. He is our oldest kid. I grew up in a big city so I went all around, but now we live in the burbs. Thx for any ideas and suggestions. Also curfew ideas... 9:30-10? Thx