Teen Parenting

12yo wants to take the metro with two classmates and my mother says not yet

moss_lantern_7110

My older son is 12 and wants to go to a friend's place by metro with two classmates. It's a short ride with no line change. I think a trial run is reasonable: I ride with them once, then they do it on their own and call when they get there. My mother, who covers for me most afternoons, thinks 12 is too early and that I'll regret it. For those whose kids already do this, what did the first solo trip look like and how old were they? I'm more interested in the rules you set than in whether to allow it.

5 comments

  • amber_marigold_6068

    my daughter started at 12 too, with a friend. the rule that actually mattered was phone charged and location on, not the ride itself. the ride was easy, the walk from the station was where she got lost once.

  • lagoon_sandal_2087

    mine did this at 13. came back and said metro is boring 😂 convincing the grandmother is a separate battle though

  • lagoon_pebble_9901

    I'd side a little with your mother on one point. Three 12-year-olds together are louder and more distracted than one. When my son started, we let him go alone first and with friends only later. Sounds backwards, but he paid more attention alone. My mother also came round once she had seen him do it twice.

    • moss_lantern_7110

      hadn't thought of the group itself being the distraction. alone first is a harder sell though, for him the whole point is going with friends 🤷‍♂️

  • orchid_pigeon_6626

    We did the trial run version with our son at 13. I sat in a different coach the first time so he didn't feel watched, and he still found it embarrassing. The part I never fully settled was what happens if the plan changes halfway, like the friend's parent not being home. We agreed he would call before changing anything, but that only works if he remembers.

  • pebble_puzzle_4142

    Our daughter's first solo metro ride was at 13, with her cousin. Her nani was against it like your mother, full drama, but we did one trial with me and then let them go. Just ask the friend's parents to message when they reach na, that settled nani also 😊

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