am i wrong in not letting my daughter 17 go camping with her mates

Is it an actual camping place with others around or in the bush camping? Would there be another responceble adult or a friend of theirs that has a car/ licence that would be willing to go with them? If you are really worried it maybe best to not let them go and make arrangments yourself for another weekend to make up for it.... The weather has been crappy here too and I know further up the coast of Australia it has been Really bad...... Friends of mine cut their camping trip short this weekend because of the rain and they were camping at a caravan park in tents and they were drenched.... Best of Luck

Wow, she is 17 and you won't let her go? I mean, she is on a camping ground and she is with friends... ? When she is a bit older she is already a adult, and she needs to know what it is like to take care of you're own buisness. No, I think you should have let her go.

My guess is that you should let her go. What's the point of camping with an adult at your side - maybe he was asked not to go. It's supposed to be a friends weekend. And as you said there are not going into the wild - there is a shop there. Maybe is good for you daughter to feel responsible, I was 12 when I first camped out without parents. Best you can do is give her a raincoat and aspirins in case it does rain.

It sounds like you have good grounds in her not going. Especially if you have a strong gut feeling that this isn't appropriate thing for her to do. She may be mad about it for a bit, but she will soon get over it and now that you only had her best interest at heart.

I'd go with my gut. This sounds like a bad situation really. I just can't imagine myself dropping of a bunch of young teens to fend for themselves in a camp ground 4 hours away with no adults. I can't even imagine it is legal. where I live you have to be 18 or older to rent a camp spot or even a hotel room. And the father sounds a bit weird. Why is he demanding money from you if your daughter is not going? did you pay him? i hope not. Put your foot down on this one.

You did the right thing. Without the parent being there they are not going to have any supervision and well that could open up all kinds of problems. And like you pointed out, if there was an emergency what will they do? Depending on the camp site they might not get good reception on a cell phone so they might not realize what to do in that situation. If the parent was going like the original plan I wouldn't see any problem with it, but no adult supervision with 4 teenagers? Ohhh no lol Stick by your decision because it is definitely the right one.

i would do what you think is right........................

As a (widowed) single mom of a sixteen year old daughter, I can totally relate to this situation. I commend you for standing strong in this, as I'm 'often' made out to be 'the meanie' it seems, when it comes to these things. My daughter is striving towards independence these days, and these changes have happened seemingly overnight. It can be very difficult to strike a balance between letting them spread their wings, and still being able to give the necessary guidance, and benefits of our wisdom too. Here in Canada, they're considered adults when they're eighteen. Like another respondent mentioned, they wouldn't even be allowed to stay at a campsite, or a hotel, without an accompanying adult. I don't know what this 'dad' is thinking, but I'm unimpressed. It's too bad you ended up having to pay for something, when your daughter's not even participating, but I can understand 'your reasoning' behind this. Take care.

Hi Sue! I'm thirty and have a four year old but I know that a mother's instinct is always right and I am proud of you for standing by it! :) My sister-in-law is sixteen and her Mom has had some difficult decisions to make for her in the last year or so especially and so I appreciate what you are going through! Some may say that I lived a sheltered life, however I didn't leave my parent's side until I was eighteen at which point I spent the summer at a camp as a counselor for children. My Mom had a hard time with that even though I was totally safe (I'm an only child) I must say though that I think that helped to prepare me for living on my own when I went to college.... In looking back, I am thankful for the wonderful parents I had and that I spent so much time with them (Even as a teen) We lived in the country and I was not popular at school, besides I loved being with my parents...Go figure!! I guess I was a strange one LOL But it saved me from getting involved in a lot of stuff!! Don't get me wrong, I had several loser boy friends that my Mother always worried about and my Father always disapproved of and disliked with good reason...The thing is, I always knew my parents were there for me and they still are today :) If I can do half as good a job at raising my son as they did me I will be happy! ~Heavens~

Generally when we get a bad feeling about something there is a reason for that.I think you made the right decision.I myself would certainly have felt more comfortable knowing there was a responsible adult there.The other girls parent sounds like a real idiot and I hope you didn't give him any money?

My parents always trusted me when I was at that age. I'm glad they did this way I'm more responsible now and more independent than other friends of mine.I know you are worried about it her health in case of any unexpected event but life is build in such way.

If am the mom of your daughter, I would probably do the same. I think you did the right thing. Feeling something for safety of a child is what often moms do. I am happy to know how concern you are with your daughter and the other teens. I think they still need guidance, specially that they are going camping in a place unfamiliar to them. Aside from the fact that the weather condition is not quit that safe.

well ofcourse u are right about this. u are woried about your daughter. and she has to understand that. i am 1 year older then your daughter and let me say i like it alot to be responsable for something. it's not only the study where you can learn knowledge but it's also by the parents. and responsabilty is a great development for a teenager. but in this position you rather not let her go, a alternatief is maybe if it is somewhere closer??