Anyone with a kid going on a senior trip? Help!!

[jjarman]

My son is a junior and we had a meeting last night to plan for their senior trip. The cost is not that bad for them to go to the Bahamas. I am just more than a little leary about letting him go off like that. He is my only child and we have been a little protective at times. He gets to do pretty much everything he wants to do but I am really nervous about this. He won't be going if some parents don't go as chaperones. The name of the group they are going through is Grad City. Anyone have experience with them or letting their child go off like this?

 

[ilovejack02]

No, not yet. I went and survived but it was only to Florida and my much older boyfriend went which actually made my parents happy. They knew he would keep me safe and he did.
I wouldnt allow my son to go out of the country unless I went. Id have a few drinks on the beach enjoy the sun and NOT follow him around, but would be there if he needed me and kinda try and keep an eye on him.

Pack your bags mom and go with him. Have a great time and dont chase him around the whole time lol.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Not over my dead body would a child of mine leave the country without me if they were underage, and if all possible not even if they were of age....


Parents today are crazy... Take the amount and offer something that is just appealing to your son... Pick a friend and take a trip...

 

[Todd&Copper]

All I have to say is Natalie Holloway.

I wouldn't let any future children of mine go on a trip like that.

 

[Acklander]

Senior trip - most the kids are 17 or 18. In a year they're going to technically be on their own anyway. You also said that their are going to be chaperones? Yeah, I'd have no problem letting my child go, but I'm the kind of parent who would be more afraid of sending my child out into the cruel cruel world after having lived in a mommy bubble for 18 years. I'd rather he have some experiences and make some mistakes while he still has family support to fall back on. That being said, I'd still mention the Natallie Halloway story to emphasize the importance of staying with friends, Other than that - I'd just hope he had a great time and created some great memories.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I'd never let my kids go out of the country alone for their senior class trip. Not in a million years. I would be the first parent in the chaperone line.

 

[Hannathy]

If you think you are a little over protective you probably are a lot over protective so I'd start there. Before I would let him go on that kind of trip I would give him a lot more freedom now so he can learn to make good decisions now before he is in a situation with more dire consequences - Let's face it Natalie Holloway made some very bad choices on the last day she was alive. Will he go and remember common sense or will he go and be so thrilled with the freedom he looses all common sense. Only you know your kid. We are going to the meeting soon for my DD to go to Italy next summer with orchestra. If we can come up with the Money I have no qualms about her going and she will be in 10th grade so much younger. she is very independent and reliable, has flown many times by herself and is self reliant. I only question why these senior trips have to be to places that only highlight the activities most of us wish our kids weren't doing. Why couldn't they go to Disney?

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Senior trips are still big here. I know I went to Europe with all my best friends and we had a blast!

I thank my parents for having the strength to let go and let me see some of the world.

 

[Hedy]

Honestly, far more kids leave the country with school groups and return fine, as opposed to cases such as Natalee Holloway. If you REALLY don't want your son to go, that's fne, but I'd advise you to think whether it's really worth him missing out on a good experience because of fears.

 

[jjarman]

We live in a small sheltered kind of community. Everyone knows everyone. I feel safe letting him drive just about anywhere. He is a life guard so he is responsible and he is a good kid. We have talked about Natalie Holloway, limiting drinking (I know it is going to happen), not letting any drink he has out of his hand for a minute, not going off alone, etc. All the usual precautions. DS is a big kid, 6'2", 185 pounds. Now if he was a 5'2", 105 pound girl...totally different story. I am hoping my good friend will be going as chaperone. She has said her daughter won't be going without her. I know I have to let him go at some point and it is not for another year and a half almost. I am hoping they will all decide to just to go Panama City, FL but don't see that happening. You can see from my siggie that I am the type to want him to do things but why does it have to be now?

 

[Disneyland1084]

In my opinion I think high school graduates are TOO YOUNG and immature to go on a trip in a foreign country. Look what happened to Natalee Holloway. I know not all graduated seniors are irresponsible, but I'd say most of them are.

 

[Todd&Copper]

A lot of these senior trips to the Bahamas are just booze fests - lets be honest here. And no matter how well you raised your kids, when they are hundreds of miles away from home, with minimal supervision, sex with strangers, booze, and pot are serious temptation. And the latter two seriously impair judgment.

 

[ilovejack02]

A lot of these senior trips to the Bahamas are just booze fests - lets be honest here. And no matter how well you raised your kids, when they are hundreds of miles away from home, with minimal supervision, sex with strangers, booze, and pot are serious temptation. And the latter two seriously impair judgment.

AMEN! I think an orchestra trip to Italy is ALOT different, than a booze fest with 1000 other kids the same age . Its our job to protective and to also teach them how to live in the real world, but I dont have to send mine off to a week long drinking trip alone. GO with him, I know some parents go. At least if something happens and he gets put in jail or is hospitalized you wont be a days flight away.

 

[ilovejack02]

Honestly, far more kids leave the country with school groups and return fine, as opposed to cases such as Natalee Holloway. If you REALLY don't want your son to go, that's fne, but I'd advise you to think whether it's really worth him missing out on a good experience because of irrational fears.

Not trying to be rude at all, but come on you are only about 22-23 yrs old. Im really not thinking you are really the right person to talk to parents of teenagers about irrational fears.

 

[antmaril]

I told my DS (our only child) from the time he was in middle school that as long as I take a breath, he would NEVER go on a "senior" trip. It just wasn't going to happen.

As it turned out, I didn't have to say no because he never asked.

 

[Acklander]

You can see from my siggie that I am the type to want him to do things but why does it have to be now?

It's not now, it's in a year. And as hard as it is, you're job is to prepare him so he can succeed in the real world.
Maybe I'm more casual about this because I started working at 14 (saved to pay for my first trip to Europe, without parents, at 15), moved out at 17, paid my way thru college and have been self sufficient since. I thank God that my parents had the sense to let me find my own way. I didn't always make good decisons, but I always had the sense to learn from the bad decisions, so all was not wasted. As much as I'd like to do for my own children because I know I could make their lives much easier with all the wisdom I've learned along the way - the fact is, I wouldn't be doing them any favors. They have to do it for themselves.

 

[antmaril]

I told my DS (our only child) from the time he was in middle school that as long as I take a breath, he would NEVER go on a "senior" trip. It just wasn't going to happen. Let's face it, these trips are not about sightseeing and going in the pool.

I never had to say no because he never asked.

 

[korbbec]

I went to France with my high school and it was fine. I would let him go. He is safer than if you let him get into a car with a group of friends.

 

[Sandy V.]

A lot of these senior trips to the Bahamas are just booze fests - lets be honest here. And no matter how well you raised your kids, when they are hundreds of miles away from home, with minimal supervision, sex with strangers, booze, and pot are serious temptation. And the latter two seriously impair judgment.

I agree. Would sure make me consider being a chaperone or offering him an attractive alternative trip that he could take a friend on instead.

Good luck. My DD is 19 and we didn't have to deal with a senior trip. However, I know the day will come soon when she wants to go SOMEWHERE across/out of the country without Mom and Dad. I trust her completely, but I'm a parent - we WORRY.

 

[EthansMom]

My kids are young yet, but when the time comes, I'd be far more willing to pay for them to go on a trip that has educational value (Europe, D.C., NYC, ect..) and well chaperoned than to pay for them to go on an underage VACATION to a location that is just going to be one big party (anyplace in Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas).

Also, for any trip out of the country, my kid had better be happy to have me along as a chaperone.