Would you let your 12 yo go to London? UPDATE p.1

[froglady]

Has your daughter been away from you for any period of time before? My daughter went abroad with People to People when she was 14, BUT she had already spent a couple of weeks each summer away at camp. Some of the students in her group were NOT ready for this experience, were terribly homesick, constantly complaining, and really didn't get a lot out of it. I'm not sure she would have been ready at age 12.

She's leaving to spend a semester in India next week, and I really have very few concerns about her.

 

[frustrated]

No, not unless I went. And I would go in a heartbeat. It is different than state to state, because I would drive cross-country to get a child if need be. I drove it several times for much sillier reasons!

I think 12 is too young. A 12 year old is (usually) just learning to make life affecting decisions for herself.

It sounds like a great opportunity, but for that kind of money your family could make a decent trip to somewhere exciting and wonderful. It doesn't have to be with other children her age for it to be an enlightening experience.

 

[mudnuri]

I'm seeing both sides of this...but one part sort of boggles me.

why does a 2 year old that wants to go to Disney world have a say in a family vacation???? you were there in nov '03, so she'd have been what 1? And she remembers, and has been buggin ya since ya got back? No way would a 2 year old in my house be askin for a vacation every day- regardless of it being mickey...but anyway..

When I was in 10th grade, a bunch of us from school wanted to go to VA Beach for spring break, we were all 16-17. No chaperones. We did some investigating, hotel rooms, best travel route, times, prices, savings etc... we planned it for 8 months, and it was A BLAST! no chaperones though, so its a bit different. We didnt do anything illegal, and though we didnt sleep boys in room, girls in room- none of us did anything "sexual" while we were there...we drove down from VT.

Having said that, my mom was crazy!....

Having 2 DD's now, I can say that YES she would go if she was my daughter and wanted too, and YES i would go as well. I would not send her on any school trip without me overnight, thats just the way I am..maybe if she was in highschool and more mature than a 12 year old.

Yes, you probably could take that 4400 and bring the entire family, but bite the bullet, and go with the group, its a opportunity that you need to take. And remember, in 2-4 years, she may not want you hangin around with her anyway...once she becomes a hormonal teen!

If worse came to worse, I'd send your DH with the 2 year old to disney, while you guys go to London!

Enjoy, and I hope you go

Brandy

 

[Mimi Q]

mudnuri,
My younger DD was 2 in November and is still 2. I am an avid photographer, and she looks at our WDW pix frequently. Mickey Mouse and the castle just fasinated her while we were there. She asks practically every day when we are going back to see Mickey. She may be only 2 years old, but I do take her feelings into consideration as well.

 

[CindyKansas]

DD went to London with her Aunt and Uncle 2 years ago when she was 13. I was more worried about the air flight then anything yes this was after 9/11. But they left from Dallas and flew nonstop to London and had no problems. I think it was the best thing we ever let her do, she met lots of people and did things that she would never be able to do here in Kansas. She still writes and e-mails some of her friends over there.

 

[Laura]

Mimi Q, I can see why you wouldn't want to cancel your WDW trip. I don't think it would be fair to your younger daughter. I loved Mickey at that age too.


I think you should be concerned about your daughter going on the trip without you--it's a normal feeling for a mom. I also think other posters have made good points about some kids being able to handle it and some not. You described your daughter as the kind of child who is responsible and trustworthy. If she doesn't get into trouble in school and would follow rules laid out for her on the trip, I think a 12-year-old like that can handle it. You know your daughter better than I do, of course.

One thing I noticed is that you haven't laid out any specific reasons why you don't want her to go alone, only why you feel you can't go along. If there's a particular issue that concerns you, you can ask us about it.

Anyway, I'm rooting for you to let your daughter go to London. I first visited Europe (including London) when I was 9 and it really changed me. I went back to London 10 years later to spend a semester abroad, and I've been back twice since then. It's my favorite city in the world, and I'm sure seeing it would be a wonderful experience for your daughter.

 

[cheyita]

Personally, I would not let her go without me. Part of it is, honestly, selfish. I would love to go to London, so I don't see spending that much money for my 12yo to do what I haven't even done yet. Plus, I just would be comfortable with her on a trip of that magnitude at that age.

My first choice is for my family to go there together. As someone else mentioned, you could probably go for a lot cheaper on your own. But I can see that might not be a good option for your whole family because you have a very young child who would not appreciate a trip to Europe as much as a trip to Disney!

 

[rcyannacci]

Originally posted by Mimi Q
Boy, there are some excellent arguments on both sides of this issue. We have three weeks to decide whether to let her go or not. She REALLY wants to go, and I know the 3 teachers who will be accompanying the students well. DD is an excellent student-right at the top of her class and a very sweet child- never gets into trouble at school. Also, she has over half of the money herself and said she would put that toward the trip. They will be on a private tour and supervised at all times.

As far as cancelling our WDW trip next year, the only reason I hesitate to do that is our 2 yo DD has been asking to go see Mickey almost every day since we got back from our last family trip- November 2003. DH's brother, sister, and their families are also planning on going when we do next year. I personally would love to go to London.

I'll preface this by saying that I don't have children, so take this with a grain of salt.

I think that your DD is willing to use some of her own money says a lot- she's serious about this opportunity. If $ is still an issue, are there other opportunities for fund raising with this group? Could a couple of her friends get together an sponsor something?

Even though the $2200 sounds expensive, I would go with the group- I went with a group in college which took care of my hotel (good, central, safe location), theatre tickets (they knew what would be running at the time), and provided us with a list of important sites to see that spanned different periods of historic interest. Especially if your DD is a good student, this could be a great opportunity to learn some British history "up close and personal." Before I went to London, I read a bunch of history and fiction that really made the city come alive for me once I got there.

Many have mentioned this, but I loved my opportunity to travel overseas when I was 15. Went to Germany and Austria, and saw and experienced so many things that made such an impression on me.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[drdelsol]

I would let her go. My advice is if a travel opportunity presents itself, take it. It may not come along again. I have been wanting to go to England since I was her age and one thing or another has happened and I still haven't made it. I'm 40 now. My mom is almost 80 and still regrets missing out on a college program to go.

Life is short, try not to have regrets.

She sounds a mature 12, if you trust her let her go. I might try to go also if the family doesn't resent missing Disney or if you could possible do Disney on the very cheap.

 

[Talking Hands]

It would depend on the adult/child ratio and who the adults were. My oldest has travelled since she was 8 with her viola/violin teacher and other students and I had no problems with her going. She also travelled with her youth choir at church as did my younger daughter.

 

[Mimi Q]

 

[liznboys]

I was wondering what you decided! Sounds like all of you are ok with the decision, so that's great. Good luck saving for next year!

 

[totalia]

I'd say not a chance to a 12 year old going to London without her parents. But then that's just me.

 

[MinnieYC]

I didn't find the thread until after you made your decision, but my initial reaction was shock that the school wanted that much money!!! For not that much more than $2200, your whole family could go!

 

[Laura]

I'm glad you're planning to have her go next year! Sounds like a great solution.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I know how you feel. I picked an extended family trip to Disney back in April over a school trip to Japan and The Great Wall. That trip was $2000.00 per person.

When I decided to do the WDW trip, the Japan trip was up in the air. When the school finally decided to go, I'd already made up my mind to do the Disney trip with my sister and her family.

My son (he's 12) wasn't upset about my decision.

I just received a letter from one of his former teachers about a trip to Uganda next spring. I've also gotten a letter from People to People Ambassadors for a trip to China next summer.

I know these are all great opportunities, but I can't help worrying.