What do you do if your teen has a summer job and has to work weekends? Do you go camping without them? I love to camp and I'm not going to stop just because my teen has a summer job. Besides, unlike when they were young, they hate to camp and hang out with mom & dad anyway.
You mean you a have a teen that works, dang, that's worth a hug and a wave good bye as you pull out of the drive way. Besides, a working lad needs to party when the mom's and dad's are away. Good Luck and Happy travels Bill
I posted the same topic last month...my teen dont want to go with us anymore either....we dont know what to do....he is only 16....my stomach cringes everytime we make plans to camp....makes it not enjoyable.....of course he dont have a job...but he plays baseball....????
All kidding aside, my oldest daughter is 14, we are on the front steps of this very problem and I am trying not to worry about it. Maybe if she was a he I would be better with it???No that didn't work either
I think leaving a 16 year old home alone without supervision is begging for a problem. Do you have a brother or sister he could stay with? I told my 16 year old daughter she could stay with my 80 year Grand Father who is in good health and is a 38 year veteran police officer. She didn't like that idea! We got her a job at a campground about 3 miles from ours. She loved the job and is going back to work there this summer. My twin boy want to get a job at the golf course near the campground next year.
Good luck!
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We started letting our oldest, now-21yo, stay home when he was 16. I figured in two more years he'd be out of high school and off at college doing God Knows What, so we all might as well get prepared. We started out with very short trips, 24hrs at first, then 48hrs. We just when short distances at first, then up to 2hrs away. We were always available by cell phone andwe had a very good nosy neighbor, haha. I left him supplied with frozen food and cokes. John knew this was his chance to either blow it or shine, so he took the high road. My rules are simple: no visitors in the house and clean up what you mess up. I think the worst thing he ever did was watch slasher movies and eat pizza.
My 15yo daughter is now entering this phase and it's a little scary. Unlike her brother, she's not a pain in the butt when we make her go. But there's no need to force her to camp if she really doesn't want to. Sometimes we let her stay with a friend while we go camping for a few days. I think next summer we'll let her overnight in the house (as long as John is at home--is that terribly sexist?)
Our style of camping changes every time we go through this. When the kids were little it was fine to just dig in for a week and play in the woods. When they hit teens we find that we need to go shorter and funner, if we want to keep them interested. In just 3 short years our daughter will be a college and it won't be an issue. So we'll do what we need to now to enjoy our time with her while we have her.
"Those who dwell...among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."--Rachel Carson, environmentalist, 1956
my older son 25 lives next door....other son 1 mile down the road...they are in and out though...last time we left him for the weekend he did not take care of the animals....cats and dogs....he is not very responsible...my older sons were at that age....he is just all about him....I think we spoiled him
gapeachy wrote: my older son 25 lives next door....other son 1 mile down the road...they are in and out though...last time we left him for the weekend he did not take care of the animals....cats and dogs....he is not very responsible...my older sons were at that age....he is just all about him....I think we spoiled him
If your kids are looking for trouble they will find it, if your home or not. Let them know you trust there judgment enough to leave them in charge. We don't limit the company they can have, nor do we lock up the booze. If there going to have company and want to drink there going to do it anyway. If you stay home so they can't do it there, they will find another place to go. Let the kids have fun, they need time away from you as much as you need the time away from them.
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We started out with very short trips, 24hrs at first, then 48hrs. We just when short distances at first, then up to 2hrs away. We were always available by cell phone andwe had a very good nosy neighbor, haha. I left him supplied with frozen food and cokes. John knew this was his chance to either blow it or shine, so he took the high road. My rules are simple: no visitors in the house and clean up what you mess up. I think the worst thing he ever did was watch slasher movies and eat pizza. 
