Year after year, one mother has held firm in her decision not to let her 14-year-old son join his friends on unsupervised camping trips — and she’s starting to wonder if she’s being unreasonable.
The mom shared her dilemma on the community forum Mumsnet, admitting she feels “really bad” and sometimes wonders if she’s “crazy” for being the only parent saying no.
“My son’s friends have been going camping together for years without adults and I’ve always said no,” she wrote. “I’m talking about fields nearby or local forests — places where people have literally gone missing.”
She added that she’s the only parent in the group taking that stance.
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“This time the kids are going to a field about 50 minutes from us,” she explained. “I have no idea if there will be a phone signal, and it just seems so insane to me.”
Out of nine boys, she said, she’s the only parent who refuses permission.
Wondering if she’s overreacting, the mother asked the forum if she was being unreasonable for not letting her son go on these trips without adult supervision.
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Many users reassured her that her caution was justified. One commenter replied, “I think 16 minimum for this if no adults anywhere near.”
The mother agreed, responding, “When he’s 16 I would be ok with it.”
