Would you let your son...

[Snow White]

go to Brazil for a week? My 16 year old son has been given an opportunity to go to Brazil for a week to train in judo with another judo player that is here (Oklahoma) going to college (his friend is going to go home for 3 months and wants to take Brandon with him for a week or so). I know it would be a great experience, but that is my BABY! He would stay at his friend's home but still, its a little scary to me! Would you let your son go out of the country for something like this? My son thinks I'm being way overprotective! He's a great kid, never gets into trouble, but its just the distance thing that really bugs me! Oh, well, just needed to whine a little bit! Thanks!
michelle s.

 

[RUDisney]

My brother went to Mexico City to work at an orphanage as a service project when he was 16. He spent 5 weeks there, a week driving down and a week driving back. He came home much nicer at the end of that trip because he learned how hard some people have it.

My sister went to Germany when she was 16 for a week with a school trip.

It will make him a better person if you let him go. Better in the sense that he will learn alot by traveling and by seeing how another culture lives.

 

[SeaShelley]

I think you should let him go.....and I also think you should go with him! What a once in a lifetime that would be! Probably Brandon would think differently, but it may be something to consider!

 

[Serena]

I'd find out as much as you can about the area and the parents, etc. Then let him go.

It'll be a great experience for him, and he deserves your trust and faith in him.

You can not sleep and not eat and bite your fingernails to the quick while he's gone. But I'd let him go anyway.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I think it could be a fantastic opportunity for your son.

If you're going to say yes, you'd better get cracking! He'll need a passport, tourist visa, and updated immunizations.

 

[Deb in IA]

I'd go WITH him. Besides, I've always wanted to go to Brazil.

 

[smilingmouse]

I'd definately let him go, although I may be a bit biased... My mom let me travel to France for the first time 7 weeks after my 16th birthday, and the experience changed my life. Thanks to that trip, and a second one two years later, I'm now a French major in college.

SmilingMouse

 

[Disneydenise]

Hi I feel your pain Mom. My son had the chance to go and fence for 3 weeks during the summer with his fencing coach and the team. I really tried to let him go but as obstacles came up I felt better and better. We really didn't have the $3000 for the trip and the additional $1000 for the food. I know it was a wonderful opportunity but...There were a few parents whom I am very freindly with and felt comfortable sending him with but it is so far away and the goverment isn't stable. He is my child and noone loves him like I do. He is 16 I am sure he will have other opportunities to travel. If you don't feel comfortable than I am sorry but the answer is no. You are coming into a very difficult period in your parenting, one more time you have to establish who the big dog is and believe me he is going to test you again. I know that it is only a week but for whatever reason you are uncomfortable that will be the longest week of your life. Brazil is a stange country and he really isn't going to get all there is to grasp about the culture in only a week. Americans aren't particularly loved in lots of places right now, I wouldn't want to chance it. I know I am over protective but I would rather that than the alternative.

 

[Snow White]

Thanks for all the advice, I'll need to check into the expense of this little venture, I don't have a clue how much the airfare etc. would be yet, I hadn't gotten that far in my thinking! lol! I want him (actually all 4 of our boys) to have every opportunity in the world, but sometimes its hard to "give them wings" ya know? I am more the type to want to be with them 24/7 which isn't good either! It just irks me to no end that they are growing up so fast!

michelle s.

 

[Serena]

Believe me I know. My dd(16) just passed the first test to see if she can spend 7 weeks in Spain. It's a long process and a little bitty, ok, not so little bitty, part of me hopes I don't have to deal with it.

 

[fklhou]

You need to do what you think is right. My DS has had a scholarship to go to Israel for the last two summers and we have not let him go (for obvious reasons). This was a very difficult decision for us on a number of fronts. The program that he would had been on has Israeli militiary protection for parts (Israel depends on tourisms and tries to take care of tourists) and we know that it would be unlikely for him to be caught up in the violence. However, on balance our decision was to pass on the scholarship and the trip.

I know that that Brazile is far safer in most respects compared to Israel but you need to decide what is best for your DS. Good luck.

 

[cinlee3]

If you let him go, I would make sure you contact the boys parents and make sure they would not be going out anywhere by themselves. I know two boys who went last summer and stayed with some friends for a couple of weeks. They had a great time, but they were driven wherever they needed to go and were never allowed to go out on their own.

My son went to Venezuela with his soccer team a few years ago. Let me tell you, if I would have known then what I know now he wouldn't have gone. They had an armed guard that traveled with them wherever they went. They had to have police escorts as they traveled by bus (with sirens and everything). They were treated like celebrities, signed autographs, but it is not the U.S. It is an extremely dangerous place. They had some of their gear stolen at the hotel. My son was almost hospitalized with severe food poisening. While it was an experience he will always remember, in this case I don't think I'd do it again.

 

[yoopermom]

Last fall didn't someone post a government site that you could go to that listed how much of a risk each overseas country was right now? That would be helpful to you, I would think. If the country's fairly stable, I think I would let him go. My 8DS is very active in karate and, I'm sure, in a few years, will want to go to worlds in Europe. If he thinks he gets to go to Europe before I do, though, he's crazy! Good luck...
Terri the Yoopermom

 

[Snow White]

Yikes, the Israel and Venezuela ones sound too scary for me! Its too bad you have to worry so much about getting cultural experiences isn't it!

michelle s.

 

[tiggerlover]

No, I wouldn't let him go.