A Little Bit of Rope

At 13, Kian is starting to become ever more independent and often doesn’t want to join us on days out with the little ones, even though he has a fab time when we are there.

The trouble is, if I let him stay at home you can guarantee that he won’t move from the Xbox or laptop so I normally end up insisting he comes along.

Hubby and I were always out as kids and were always outside come rain or shine.  I have fond memories of exploring my local area, playing with friends in the park and heading into town on the train, so it has been frustrating watching Kian want to stay at home and play games online with his friends.

I know if is their way of playing these days and I can hear him chatting and laughing on his headset whilst building the most amazing worlds on Minecraft, but it just isn’t the same as going out and about with your friends.

This weekend we got the question we were hoping for and dreading all at the same time!

Mum, can I go the beach with my friends?

As a parent, all the dangers suddenly leap in to your mind and then the realisation that your baby is growing up……and fast!

He was questioned (not in a Spanish inquisition type way) about who he was going with and what they planned to do. Thankfully his friends are quite a sensible bunch so I was happy that he would be in a good group.  He wanted a lift into Bournemouth, which I was happy to do and had arranged to meet his friends outside the Oceanarium.  Pretty organised for a group of 13 year old boys!

On the morning of his day out, not only was he up on time but he had sensibly packed his bag with food, a towel and swimming shorts.  The only thing I had to add was sunscreen and I made sure he had coated himself before we left.

I dropped him off and he was gone.

I got a text to let me know he had found his friends ok and I didn’t hear from him again until he wanted to be picked up.

He had a wonderful time!

Free from parental restrictions and small siblings demanding attention he got to do what he wanted to do.  I got tales of football on the beach, swimming in the rather chilly sea and an amazing new game using a Waboba ball (think bouncy ball you use on water) and the obligatory ice cream.

He even re-applied sunscreen, although it does appear that 13 year old boys won’t ask each other for help as he has a line of sunburn just below his shoulders as he couldn’t quite reach…………next time I will do his back before he goes.

 

24 thoughts on “A Little Bit of Rope”

  1. Awww how lovely for him! My daughter is 11 (and a half) and will be starting secondary school in September!! I know I will need to loosen the apron strings at some point but i hate the idea! 🙁 xx

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  2. I have exactly the same with my teenage son! We were constantly suggesting he turned off his consoles and went out with friends. He took our advice and now we have the opposite problem; he’s never in! It’s great that they are outside and enjoying themselves.

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  3. He is such a wonderful lad I am sure he is very sensible (see I had good first impressions of him). It is nice that you have a beach nearby encouraging him out but I can see how worrying that is all at the same time.

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  4. The first time I let my son out on his own – oh how the panic set in! My mum always said the hardest part about being a parent is letting your kids grow wings and fly – she was right!! Sounds like he had a fab time!

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  5. How wonderful – we have this similar issue with my 16 yr old. His year group at school are v widespread and no one hangs out locally – which is kind of good… but not so good either when it means they all meet up online :S As you say, a virtual world is hardly the same!

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  6. i think its the age when they are starting to be more independent, i think since 14 y.o my nephew stopped coming to see us as frequent as he used to and now at 16 he has pasties with mates

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  7. I have exactly the same memories as a child – playing outside till late, exploring the area with friends and all sorts of things. When I see my 5 yrs old brother spending his free time with tablet or xbox games I’m dissapointed how much he’s missing out!

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  8. How lovely that he wants to go to the beach with his friends – I hope my Austin will be wanting to do similarly healthy things when he reaches this age! And good on you for allowing him out for the day. I bet I’d have been terrified too, but it sounds as though it was a great thing for him to have done.

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  9. It sounds like he had a great time. I know what you’re going through as my eldest is 15. It’s really hard when they start going out on their own. The first time my daughter went to a pop concert in London with her friends I felt literally sick until she was safely home!

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  10. ok, this sounds wonderful and he sounds like a really sensible, lovely boy. But I have to be honest, it makes me feel a little sick in my stomach. The idea of my eldest going off on his own and waiting for the text to arrive to say he’s ready to come home – I would spend the whole time pacing the floor. I’m really impressed by how you’ve been able to give him the time and space to do this as obviously it’s an inevitable step of spreading those wings…I only hope I’ll be as great as this when it’s my turn to wave my oldest off!!

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  11. We have the same problem with our 13 year old and he has started meeting his mates over the past few years but in town as we have no beach near us! Glad he enjoyed it

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  12. I’ll bet he was so excited… I still remember when I was 13 and allowed to go to town with my best friend shopping alone. It was amazing for me. It’s so hard to let go though, I am terrified for when our time comes 🙁

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  13. Lovely post. Sounds like he was very organised for his day out! It must be reassuring that you can let him go out with his friends again in the future. My son doesn’t always want to come out with us either.

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