I'm German, travelled with my boyfriend at that age, and DIDN'T have sex. Because I didn't want to. Everyone assumed we did. Whatever, I didn't care either way.

Americans are weird about sex. But there really is no need to automatically assume they did. Either way, nobody's business.

Also, it's pointless to discuss now. He went, he's back, he had fun, case closed.


To the PP who called the girlfriend a piece of ass: you're disgusting and trashy. Seriously.

I'm pretty prudish, and I would have let him go, assuming he's proven himself to be fairly mature and reasonable. He's going to college anyway. If he's decided to be sexually active, better with a long-term girlfriend he cares about than a random hookup at a frat party.

12:04 again. I'm surprised at all the PPs saying they wouldn't have let their child go. But then again, my kids are seasoned travelers because we have family in Europe and Asia. We have friends who send their elementary schoolers by themselves on the plane to whichever European country they are originally from. All these kids at 17 wouldn't turn a hair at finding themselves far from home without their parents.

Anonymous wrote:
OP, I think it must have been a wonderful experience for him, and he will probably remember it all his life. He will also remember that YOU let him go!

At 17, you just remind them to use protection at all times, to be careful in places they don't know (particularly at night), and to drive with circumspection.

+100. FTR, I would let either DS or DD do this the summer before college under the same circumstances.

I never understand why Americans are so puritanical about sex and then so rampant at the same time. Its a weird contradiction.

When I was 17 my parents let me go to Hong Kong with my BF (18) and his family.

And we had a LOT of sex. Of course we did, it was splendid and i wouldn't have had it any other way.

OP, I think it must have been a wonderful experience for him, and he will probably remember it all his life. He will also remember that YOU let him go!

At 17, you just remind them to use protection at all times, to be careful in places they don't know (particularly at night), and to drive with circumspection.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never would have let my kid go. He is a teen. Of course they had sex.

So? He's going off to college and will be more alone there. Raise your kids right and send them off.

So? I accept the sex but i would not be okay with so much unspervised time.

Teen can travel with the family. Not some piece of ass.

Why is this a "once in a lifetime"? My teens have been to europe with us several times.

Will your kids live at home during college?

Hopefully.

It would be so much harder to continue breastfeeding them if they lived on campus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never would have let my kid go. He is a teen. Of course they had sex.

So? He's going off to college and will be more alone there. Raise your kids right and send them off.

So? I accept the sex but i would not be okay with so much unspervised time.

Teen can travel with the family. Not some piece of ass.

Why is this a "once in a lifetime"? My teens have been to europe with us several times.

Will your kids live at home during college?

Hopefully.

Poor kids. But whatever- it will just motivate them to study hard probably and get away asap

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never would have let my kid go. He is a teen. Of course they had sex.

So? He's going off to college and will be more alone there. Raise your kids right and send them off.

So? I accept the sex but i would not be okay with so much unspervised time.

Teen can travel with the family. Not some piece of ass.

Why is this a "once in a lifetime"? My teens have been to europe with us several times.

I think going to europe with your parents would be a very different experience than going with your girlfriend or boyfriend. I know which one I'd prefer! Also, 3 weeks is a longer time than most family vacations have allotted.

I know what you would prefer and why. The sex!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never would have let my kid go. He is a teen. Of course they had sex.

So? He's going off to college and will be more alone there. Raise your kids right and send them off.

So? I accept the sex but i would not be okay with so much unspervised time.

Teen can travel with the family. Not some piece of ass.

Why is this a "once in a lifetime"? My teens have been to europe with us several times.

Will your kids live at home during college?

Hopefully.

3 weeks in Europe with a free safe place to stay? Sounds great. You would have been crazy not to let him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never would have let my kid go. He is a teen. Of course they had sex.

So? He's going off to college and will be more alone there. Raise your kids right and send them off.

So? I accept the sex but i would not be okay with so much unspervised time.

Teen can travel with the family. Not some piece of ass.

Why is this a "once in a lifetime"? My teens have been to europe with us several times.

"Piece of ass?" Glad you are clearly raising your son to respect women.

Klassy. You've been to Europe several times, but you clearly aren't very worldly with that gutter talk.

I can't believe some of you actually think this was a bad idea, including you, OP.

If they're having sex, they had it long before he headed over to Europe. And the fact that he has any stories to tell about his trip that don't involve sex tells me he got something out of the experience.

Had you kept him at home, OP, he would have missed out on Europe and still had sex when she got back.

I am feeling a religious vibe here. Does OP belong to a conservative religious group that frowns upon teenagers of the opposite sex being alone together? Is OP getting grief from members of their congregation about allowing him to go on this trip because there's a risk he might "sin"?

I think the most unusual thing about letting him go is that he could afford his own plane ticket.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never would have let my kid go. He is a teen. Of course they had sex.

So? He's going off to college and will be more alone there. Raise your kids right and send them off.

So? I accept the sex but i would not be okay with so much unspervised time.

Teen can travel with the family. Not some piece of ass.

Why is this a "once in a lifetime"? My teens have been to europe with us several times.

"Piece of ass?" Glad you are clearly raising your son to respect women.