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Teenagers

How much driving around is reasonable?

34 replies

purpleroses · 24/03/2013 09:51

DSD (15) has a boyfriend she's been with about a year. Since September he's moved to sixth form so they only get to see each other at weekends. We live in the centre of town, near to the school that they both went to (and near his sixth form) but his family live more than half an hour's drive away in the middle of nowhere.

The BF used to get lifts in to ours a fair bit from his parents, and we ran DSD out there sometimes so they could see each other. But lately his parents have apparently been refusing to bring him over, or give DSD lifts to or from his. She says they don't approve of the relationship and think he should concentrate on his studies. This seems a bit harsh to me, as he's lower sixth age and doing well at school as far as I gather. Definitely not a tearaway.

Anyway, it's meant that DSD is desperately pleading for lifts to and from his so they can spend time together. This means a round trip of over an hour twice in a day. We have other DCs too who need our time, and DP is understandably reluctant to keep doing all the driving. But we both feel a bit sorry for DSD if we say no. Also feel a bit miffed that BF's parents couldn't be more helpful - as we live in the nearest town to them where you'd assume they might have some reason to drive into anyway, whereas they've chosen to live in the middle of nowhere.

And no, there isn't any public transport option available (only with a six mile cycle ride first - which BF could do at a push I guess, but DSD obviously can't do if she's coming from this end, so wouldn't have a bike with her)

Would you do that level of driving to help out a teenage relationship?

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NorthernLurker · 24/03/2013 09:56

Can he not come home with her after school at least one night a week and then you drive him back to his later? It all sounds rather sweet and tbh yes I would do the driving BUT not both days of the weekend. Would you allow hom to stay over with you - downstairs and with morion sensors activated on her bedroom door obviously Grin

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TheFallenNinja · 24/03/2013 09:59

Not much really. Love will find its own way.

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TheNebulousBoojum · 24/03/2013 10:00

They want him to concentrate on his A levels, presumably with an eye to going to university.
I'd help out with lifts at the weekend, and encourage the to use fb and skype to communicate. It's not really fair for you to continuously undermine his parents.

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purpleroses · 24/03/2013 10:20

DSC are with us every weekend, but in the week they stay with their mum who's about an hour's bus ride in the wrong direction, so DSD can't have BF back there. They do come here occasionally after school but we're not always in (DP is never in til 8pm) and don't tend to encourage it. Normally they only do that if they've got something they're going out to later.

Re staying over - bone of contention really - I don't see why not (we have a sofabed downstairs he could use) but DP is not keen. Not sure whether BF's parents would be up for this either. Would help a lot though when she wants to go out with him in the evening, and then wants him taken back home late in the evening when it's dark and difficult driving where he lives.

Nebolous - I don't think we're undermining them Confused. He's not been banned from seeing her, his parents have just stopped doing anything to help him do so. They do use Skype and FB quite a bit I think (and endless texting)

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SirChenjin · 24/03/2013 10:23

When you say twice in the day, does that mean just on a Saturday or Sunday, or on school days as well?

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TheNebulousBoojum · 24/03/2013 10:31

I know that they haven't banned him, it is quite hard to prevent a 17 year old from doing most things they choose to.
Why do you think they have stopped helping him see your DSD? Probably because they are aware of the need for concentrated study, and that his AS levels are not far off. Is he taking 4 or 5?
It's a lot of work in a short time frame, and by filling the gap that they have created, you are nullifying their efforts.

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auforfoulkesake · 24/03/2013 10:40

I would have thought him staying, particularly as you have a sofa bed, would be an ideal scenario

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auforfoulkesake · 24/03/2013 10:41

can you talk to his parents and agree on lifts?

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HeathRobinson · 24/03/2013 11:02

I think helping on one weekend day would be reasonable. Not both.

I think his parents are, rightly, concerned about the impact of this relationship on his A levels. There is a lot to revise and not that much time left to do it.

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purpleroses · 24/03/2013 12:18

SirChen - not week days, as she's with her mum then (though her mum doesn't driver her to BFs). It's just one or other day at the weekend usually - though she often wants lifts to other places on the other day too, with our without BF.

Nebulous - DSD says they've stopped helping him because of his studies. He is doing 5 A levels - including Double Maths, so that is a heavy workload I guess, though as I said, he's lower sixth, and seems a nice lad, sensible and DSD isn't exactly drawing him into wild parties, etc. I'm not entirely sure that's the whole of it though tbh - I'm not certain whether there's things DSD isn't telling us. There's been a few issues here with them locking themselves in her room, under bedclothes, etc - so it's possible BF's family are concerned about the fact that she's still underage (16 in the summer). I'm just guessing though. She's a nice girl, polite and pleasant to adults, so can't see any obvious reason why they don't approve of her. Especially as they used to be OK about things, even when BF was doing GCSEs. It's just recently they've been unhappy.

We can't talk to them and agree on lifts really - we don't know them at all. ie don't know their names or their landline number. I don't think DSD would want us to start treating her as a younger child and arranging things with BF's parents really.

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NorthernLurker · 24/03/2013 12:56

Ah. Sounds like they do want to discourage the relationship maybe because they're concerned about the implications of a sexual relationship. I think people always assume parents of daughters fret more but in fact it's a potential concern for all parents.

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secretscwirrels · 24/03/2013 14:03

I think you are right about the reason his parents are concerned. Five A levels is a large workload.

We can't talk to them and agree on lifts really - we don't know them at all. ie don't know their names or their landline number. I know it's hard but iI think it would be worthwhile trying to have a chat with his mother. Northernlurker is right about parents of boys being equally concerned. If I suspected my 17 year old son might engage in under age sex I would definitely be worried.
You might be able to reassure her parents that they will be suitably chaperoned in your home.

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TheNebulousBoojum · 24/03/2013 16:17

Underage girlfriend and locking themselves in her room under the bedcovers?
As the parent of an 18 year old boy, that would really worry me, no point in stunning A levels and a RG uni if he's got a sex offender's label too. People can be very inflexible about that sort of thing, especially if it ends in pregnancy.

A year, and you don't even know his parents' names? Have you had any normal conversations with him? Chatted to him over dinner? Gone out anywhere with them? Have they had sex?

With 5 A levels including maths, what's he planning on doing next year when applying to uni? Perhaps they are also concerned that he won't choose the best ones for his subjects, just the ones close enough to see his girlfriend.

But you could continue to keep dropping her off at his house, and see if that pushes his parents into communicating with you, or if it merely causes problems between him and his parents.

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auforfoulkesake · 24/03/2013 16:59

just take turn in the lifts and fair enough I would be putting my foot down at this moment in time. come the summer when the exams are over I am sure things will be back to normal. but AS levels are important

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purpleroses · 24/03/2013 18:48

We've had plenty of normal conversations with the BF nebulous - he's joined us for dinner, etc many times. But you don't ask "so what are your parents names then?" really do you? And certainly not "and what's their phone number?" Confused.

I doubt he'd be planning to try and study close to home just to keep up the relationship, DSD is bright academically too, so will likely be going away just a year later anyway. Though I'm just guessing here.

It's particularly hard to try and talk to the other parents when she's not even my daughter. DP doesn't really do the talking to other parents thing. But nor does he really liaise effectively with his ex about it (I've no idea whether his ex has ever spoken to the BF's parents), and nor do I feel it's really my place.

Sounds from what people are saying here that my hunch about them possibly being concerned about her age and the seriousness of the relationship could be right though. Might try and see if I get the chance to push DSD a bit on what the problem is with her BF's parents and see if she'll tell me a bit more.

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SirChenjin · 24/03/2013 19:20

I would certainly ask what the BF's parents' names are, yes, especially after a year. I'm really surprised that after all this time you don't know more about the family.

You don't think he's maybe using the lack of lifts as an excuse not to see your DD and do more studying?

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chocoluvva · 24/03/2013 22:05

Please don't undermine the other set of parents by finding ways round their rules. He is their son and they are entitled to do whatever they think is in the best interests of their son.

My DD went out with a boy whose mum used to tell her that she'd try to get my rules bent and that I was being over-protective. This was purely for the benefit of her DS. I still feel angry with her for making it very hard to parent my child the way I wanted to.

15YO girls however polite and sensible do not always report things accurately - you do have to take some of what they say with a pinch of salt. BF's tend to come and go anyway - once he is 18 he'll be able to drink and may very well outgrow your daughter, as he wants to move in different circles.

My DD recently struck up a friendship with a boy (also 17) who lives in the country. I asked him for his landline number after about the third time he was here in case I ever need to contact her in an emergency.

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schoolchauffeur · 25/03/2013 08:42

I don't think the level of driving is really the issue- obviously if you have a) the time and b) can afford the petrol then you can drive as much as you like.

However, as others have said, you need to be careful that you aren't unwittingly undermining his parents by driving her over there. I would limit it to every other weekend, explain to her why his parents are so keen for him to focus on his studies etc and explain that ( unless you think it is..._ that it is not personal against her- it could be any girl and there would be the same issue ( this is what I have told my DD- see below). Tell her the mature thing to do is to both focus on studies for the next couple of months until exams are over- everyone will be more relaxed then with the summer to look forward to.


A word of caution though- we are in a similar position with my DD except she is the older one ( nearly 18) in a relationship with bf ( nearly 17). This has been for over 18 months now and in the early days bf parents loved her- now it has got more involved they are still openly very nice to her, but are doing pretty much all they can to kill the relationship dead in the water as they don't want him in a serious relationship.

Despite the fact he is doing very well at school, they both have a good attitude to their studies, voluntarily don't see each other in key exam periods, have a wide range of other friends/activities etc and I think have conducted the relationship in a really mature manner, Bfs parents just want him young,free and single. So DD and b/f have done all the things I said above, but b/f parents still have the same view!!! Which I think in the end will be counter productive as there may well start to be a point at which the b/f maintains the relationship just because it is "forbidden fruit".

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senua · 25/03/2013 08:57

If the parents won't drive, then why doesn't he? Has he started lessons yet.

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purpleroses · 25/03/2013 09:47

senua - he's just turned 17, and I think is about to start lessons. Yes that may change things - though his parents will still retain some control assuming he has to borrow their car to get anywhere.

schoolchauffeur - we can afford the petrol, but the driving does come at the expense of time spent with other kids, or sometimes means them being driven along, which isn't much fun for them. It was the feeling of unfairness about the driving, and uncertainty over how much is normal that led me to start this thread - but it has got me thinking about what is actually the problem from bf's parents' point of view. Will have a chat to DSD about that when I next get the chance.

Thanks all for your thoughts. I feel a bit like I've been flung into teenage parenting before I'm ready for it - my own DCs are a little younger. I want to support DP with his DD but sometimes feel we're both a bit clueless.

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secretscwirrels · 25/03/2013 13:31

I thought of something else.
The January AS module results came out a couple of weeks ago. Many students got a shock. If this coincided with his parent's withdrawal of lifts it may be that he didn't do as well in his exams as he should have? Romance takes it's toll on studies.

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lljkk · 25/03/2013 14:01

5 A-levels Shock. That's just greedy!!

Terrible his parents haven't tried to get to know you, too.

I don't think one day a week of lots of chaffeuring is so unreasonable, although I might ask her a favour in return like babysitting (seems reasonable to me!). It is temporary. I might compromise and have her use the bus for part journey, some days, she could text you when she needed picking up.

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TheNebulousBoojum · 25/03/2013 14:03

Why the Shock] lljkk?
5 A levels is the norm here for high ability students, it's why I asked the question.
His parents may have high expectations of him and be concerned about distractions.

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lljkk · 25/03/2013 15:47

One of us does not live in a normal community. I think it may be you.

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purpleroses · 25/03/2013 15:51

4 A levels is the norm at his school I think - but 5 if they do double maths which is always thought of more like 1.5 A levels. It's a private school so I assume as they're shelling out lots of money on him they probably do have quite high expectations. Can't help feeling that when I was 17 if I'd been told I wasn't allowed out for weeks on end because I should be studying, I'd probably have left home!

Interesting point about the timing of mock results though secret - thanks - I'm not familiar with A level timings so wasn't aware of that. It has just been the last few weeks that things have changed. Another thing I could pick up on with DSD to find out whether that is the reason.

Oh, and we do get a few favours - mostly babysitting - out of DSD in return for all the lifts Grin (but we can't do bus part way as the buses go right near our house - that's no the problem - it's the other end she'd need the lift from, so that would have to be BF's parents)

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