Do I let son go to T in the Park next year?

maggiesoup

Son has requested, for his big Xmas present this year, a 3-day ticket for T in T P next summer. He turned 16 this year and although he's a sensible laddie and his pals are level headed, they don't really go to clubs or, to the best of my knowledge, haven't tried to get into pubs etc. I know they have a few bottles of lager when they have a sleep over but (having had them all at my house overnight a few times) nothing more.

I feel 3 days of camping when they will be open to anything and everything worries me and of course I'm now getting the usual "all my friends are getting tickets" emotional blackmail story!

Am I being too over protective or does anyone have any horror stories of these kind of weekend concerts?

stormbreaker

My son 17 went this year. I did not sleep all weekend but he had a ball. Because he was not 18 he did not risk being ID'd for alcohol within the arena but took beers with him.

He got the organised bus from Edinburgh return. It seemed the best idea and worked really well.

Its hard but you have to learn to let go at sometime and where ever he goes these days he is 'open to anything and everything'

If he is as you say, I am sure he will be absolutly fine......oh and make sure if he does go that he has his mobile,its fully charged and has credit.....wonderful to be able to hear his voice or even receive a text for a bit peace of mind!

Oh and it is only TWO nights camping unless he chooses to go on the Thursday or not come home til the Monday. But as the bands don't start till teatime ish on the Friday and finish at elevenish on the Sunday you could talk him out of that!

I am sure there will be plenty of horror stories but you don't really want to hear them that will put you off!!!

xxlaurissaxx

I'd say let him go. Stormbreaker has covered everything and remember there is loads of police and security so he will be safe. xx

ktflosspot

Got to agree with stormbreaker & xxlaurissaxx . He sounds ( as do his friends) sensible and level headed. As long as he can get in contact with you ( via fullycharged mob phone in credit !) I'm sure he will be fine. It will not stop you worrying all weekend as that is what we mums and dads do ! From experience T in the Park is one of the nicer festivals to be at x
Hope they have a great time and you report back to this thread with a sigh of relief and a huge smile on your face xxx
KT xxxxxx

skiTTish

Hes 16 ,he has to start making his own decisions now ( and his own mistakes ) if you try to do that for him he will grow to resent you.
I had my eldest son and moved into my first home at 16 ,mind you though dont think lads mature as fast ,my eldest is now 16 and very immature but if it were me I would let him go.

goldspanners

i went to my first T in the park when i was 16 with 2 mates,we did have one of the best times of our lives. let him go. if he is as you say level headed then i don't think you have much to worry about.
its more than just going to see live bands, if this is his first camping festival it will be a huge life experience for him.
just make sure he doesnt take anything too valuable that he wouldnt want to loose.
get a cheap tent from aldi and dont worry if it gets wrecked or washed away.
and make sure he takes appropriate clothing,decide this nearer the time. if its raining then wellys are the best thing to have.

let him go and have a great time.

ljw2701

I can't really advise on whether to let him go based on personal experience (my kids are only 11 & 8) but a friend's 17 year old son went this year and had a great time - he sounds similar to your son & friends - able to remain sensible while still having a good time. One tip would be to buy a really cheap PAYG phone so that it wouldn't be a disaster if it was lost or damaged - you could always recycle it once he was home!

mrs_T

DD is 17 and went for the day last year staying night before and after with family in the area and 3 nights camping this year (I know which I'd prefer but I'm old) on an organised bus from home. She is tiny but had a great time and is just as capable of getting in trouble at home as she is there, less in some ways due to security. Best to pay towards a cheap tent with mates that can be left behind.

beanielou

Only drawback as i see it is that there are lots opf drugs going round the site & lots of offers of drink.
But if you say he is sensible.
But it is a worry.

controlfreak32

Let him go. My son went last year aged 16 and stayed in a local guest house and said it was great. He went again this year sleeping in a tent and said he had the best time ever! So much better camping.

I was worried but like everyone says, they can get into just as much trouble at home as they can when away.

He bought a cheap tent and took wellies and older clothes and said hundreds of tents (including his) were left there at the end so make sure he gets a cheapie.

It is hard letting go the first time but hopefully he will remain sensible and you will be a bit easier the next time.

pogofish

Personally, I gave-up on it years ago despite being involved at the very beginning. Its not what a festival should be to me.

TITP seems to have become a right of passage for so many Scottish Teenagers now though, and in many ways festivals are a great way for youngsters to push the boundaries in a pretty reasonably safe and friendly environment, so I would say to let him go and just put your concerns aside for a few days. The reality is that he will be mostly at risk from sunburn, exhaustion and a monumental hangover. The fears about drugs and violence have some grounds but the reality is that the place is well policed/patrolled and you really won't run into trouble if you don't go looking for it. They also have good first aid/backup services but alcohol is by a very, very long way the main drug of choice for folk there.

Go on to E-fests forums or similar to find advice about camping etc - The different sites are colour coded and some are more notorious for non-stop partying/trouble than others. You could maybe trade your permission for him accepting a less full-on campsite. The coloured wristband system makes it very difficult for someone to get into another campsite without the right band.

I certainly wouldn't send him off with anything that you wouldn't worry about him not bringing back - That includes phones etc. Get him a cheap mobile with a spare battery instead of a flashy one, see he wears a moneybelt for his main cash/docs etc and never to keep more than a small amount of money in his wallet/pockets and drill it into him that he leaves nothing in the tent that he wouldn't want to lose. Visiting an outdoors shop for a stout pair of boots and a pair of trousers with a number of secure zip-up pockets is also a good idea. Also pack a good bit of solid but simple snack food - Flapjacks/cereal bars are good, as they don't need cooking, soak up the booze and digest slowly, releasing energy over a long period and reducing the need to queue-up for ages for the horribly overpriced food stalls.

Another possibility is that you might try to get him to agree to go to one or other of the smaller festivals first? Both Belladrum and Rockness (despite the bad press this year) are very well-run and do try really hard to make it a safe but exciting experience for teenagers.