My son is going to be 15 next month. He has never wanted to camp. He doesn't like bugs and just wants to be in the house. Can anyone say video games? We always make him go and at some point he ends up thanking me for making him go because he had a good time. But the complaining comes again the next time we pack. I personally could not leave him home for a very long time to come. I would be afraid of him getting into trouble some how. Or trouble finding him. He just doesn't have good judgment yet. (But I have been called over protective)Good luck and let us know how it goes. Thanks everyone else for posting. I will read all that reply.
Deb
Steve and myself
our 4 kidlets, Justin-15, Rachel-12, Michelle-10, Kellie-8 yrs old and
our Yorkie Tiffany-3
2002 Black 1500 Avalanche 4X4
2007 Sun Valley Road Runner 210 bunkhouse
My nephew is 15 years old and thankfully he still loves to go camping with us. He enjoys riding the quads, staying up late playing board games, and just hanging out around the campfire. Hopefully that doesn't change anytime soon. He has started bringing a friend every once in a while, and that probably helps too.
When I was younger we boated every weekend. We had no kids, but two of the couples we hung out with did. The kids didn't like boating so much, but they were forced to go. Three of those four kids ended up in plenty of trouble. One of the boys wanted nothing more than to play baseball in the summer, but his parents said, "No, we are going boating."
I always thought that if I had kids, I would not force them to "like" what I like. I am studious and love a project. Well, eventually I ended up with a boy who is crazy about athletics. I never could get him interested in puttering in the shop, as I like to do. So, I changed my routine. I quit boating. I learned about the sports that I had never had any interest in, and I did things with my son that he was interested in. I even ended up coaching baseball!
I don't boat any more, but I have a great friend in my son. He teaches math and coaches basketball, nowadays. I can't wait for his games to roll around, so I can see him do what he likes best and does best. I don't understand basketball very well, but I love to see my boy excelling in something he loves.
So, instead of agonizing over what to do with the kids so you can keep doing what you want to do, you might want to consider learning about what they like doing. It could broaden your horizons; and I if I were a gambling man, I would give you odds that it would improve relations in the family. It did for me. JMHO.
Tom
"Then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
DW and me, and Pogo (the neurotic terrier) makes 3!
1988 Hawkins Motor Coach 301Q
Our oldest son is 17 and he has show calves that have to be fed twice a day so he does either stay at home when we go camping or he drives back and forth. Driving back and forth these days can get really expensive so I would be fine with him staying at home. The last time he stayed home one night with a cousin and they came down for the next day and night(drove back to feed). I have to keep reminding myself that next year he will be off at college.
Well for the 3 weeks had a job before he was fired 2 months ago and refuses to get another job.... we went camping and left him home so he could work. BUT he dont like going anywhere with us anyway luck for us.... LOL
Console yourself with the knowledge that you have done an outstanding and fantastic job raising your child to this point, and now they are ready to practice making the right decisions!
Polishnurse wrote: 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
No kidding. I have a 19 y.o. who swears she's looking every day. (6 months now). Really impressive since she sleeps until noon then takes 4 hours to get ready..... Not sure how she does it all.
Years ago, starting at about 16, we starting doing a mix. Some stay at home, some out. We would require her to plan out trips in the future and ask for the time off. Like a previous person, she always moaned and groaned, then thanked us after. However I'm sure if we made her go everytime she would have hated it everytime.
However, like it or not, the kid will misbehave in some manner. Just try to have some oversight, or at least convince the teen you do. If you have neighbors, parents, teachers, police it's a good idea to have them aware, or at least make the teen think they are. In that case, you may just have them stay out a bit later, or have one or two people over they shouldn't (not 50). Gotta loosen up sometime. Most times you'll be surprised how responsible they are.
I guess we're very fortunate because our 17 year old DD and 12 year old DS still love to camp with us. I wouldn't dream of leaving either one of them home alone unsupervised for the weekend or even overnight. It has nothing to do with whether we trust our DD or how responsible she is, we do not want to put her in the position of having to deal with certain unsafe situations should they arise. It's not unheard of that word of mouth gets around school that "so and so's parents are away for the weekend," and before you know it, 100 of your kid's "best friends" have shown up at your house to party. Good luck getting them out! Here in NY, parents are responsible for whatever happens on their property regardless of whether they're home or aware of what their minor children are doing. There's no way that I'm going to put her in such a situation or risk my home and everything that my DH and I have worked so hard for by being sued/arrested for serving alcohol to minors. If we do need to be away without the kids, we make arrangements for them to spend the night or the weekend with friends at their friends' house (supervised). When she's away at college and has to make certain decisions,at that point we have to trust that we've raised her right and that she'll make safe and responsible decisions. She'll legally be an adult at that point and will have to make adult decisions and deal with adult consequences.
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