Letting 15 year old Son travel to Europe by rail

Oh ok!

Whilst I can't agree with her that it's disgusting, I do agree they should, if possible, be kept out of the kitchen.
If possible, a separate laundry room is an essential.

Etoile2701

I wouldn't have done it. It would have worried me sick. Having said that, I did go to Europe for a month with a 19 year old friend when I was 17. I survived. I am not Kirstie Allsop's greatest fan to be honest. What did she say about washing machines in kitchens?

What did she say about washing machines in kitchens?

Just going to check it out 🙂

I wouldn't have done it. It would have worried me sick. Having said that, I did go to Europe for a month with a 19 year old friend when I was 17. I survived. I am not Kirstie Allsop's greatest fan to be honest. What did she say about washing machines in kitchens?

My now sister-in-law and I traveled from Nottinghamshire by train, to London, stayed overnight in London, across London to the coast and then across the channel onto Belgium. and first to Bruxelles and on to Namur. We were both 15 and it was long before mobile phones. We were both considered sensible girls and to be honest I felt it was a really good experience for us. I do wonder if we wrap children and young people up too much in cotton wool these days.

nightowl

Who decides who are the sensible parents and who are the not so sensible or downright stupid parents? And how is that decided other than by having a conversation with parents and the child in question, which appears to be exactly what happened in this case. I think that a group of grans deciding on the basis that someone is from a posh background and appears on a tv programme about buying and selling property is rather dangerous and likely to be wildly subjective and inaccurate.

If l was judging her I'd compare her actions to my own, having raised two sons. Not on her Honourable status or TV career.
I imagine many others are using the same bench mark.

It seems we agree then Monica that Children’s Services acted correctly? It just worries me that many posters seem so ready to believe that Kirstie Allsopp must be a responsible parent based on no evidence whatsoever.

nightowl that is my point. No one can decide which group any parent falls into. One can only judge them by their actions and that includes talking to parent and child.

As for the person whose actions triggered this thread. I make no judgement whatsoever. I cannot see what her social background has got to do with her decision. Everything depends on the circumstances and the parent and child involved.

Who decides who are the sensible parents and who are the not so sensible or downright stupid parents? And how is that decided other than by having a conversation with parents and the child in question, which appears to be exactly what happened in this case. I think that a group of grans deciding on the basis that someone is from a posh background and appears on a tv programme about buying and selling property is rather dangerous and likely to be wildly subjective and inaccurate.

Quite Aveline.

The problem is not trusting one's children but trusting that other people and events out with your control would not overcome them.

I think sensible parents will know when to let their children, as individuals, do certain things and when not. I certainly trusted one of my children out on their own before the othe, based on how they had shown the reacted to emergencies at home.

As for parents who are not sensible, well, we already have a thread about someone expressing concern about a father letting a 10 year old play with earth moving equipment needed for a house extension. All the rules in the world will not stop people like this putting their children at risk because they couldn't see the problem.

Except it hasn't been, Iam64.

It feels "nothing to see here" to me yet here I am. .

I'm actually just amazed (as KA was) that anyone would think to report a non-event.

I have, however, been chatting to my family about it this week.
My oldest grandson is 16 now. I don't think he would want to just yet. His mum said she would have jumped at the chance - but she was working festivals that summer! My husband did it at 15. I didn't.

This outrage about the length of time files remain is unnecessary. The la correctly informed KA they’d received a referral. The level of concern didn’t warrant a visit. End of concern and outrage.

Ah, so, it opens up the whole question of which parents are able to decide what's OK for their teens/children/ babies.

Kirsty Alsop didn’t post on social media until the boys were safely home apparently then saying she was proud of them. She said that the family will remain on file until her son is 25 which she thought was outrageous and I agree.
I’m sure her boy has attended a very good school, possibly a boarding school and has I’m sure learnt to be capable and independent from an early age. One of the pluses that money can buy. She knows her son and if he can be trusted but 15, even very nearly 16 does seem very young for such an adventure. Inter railing must be very expensive, lucky boy.

Working without prejudice

Mt61

I think middle class people treat their kids differently to us working class people, I mean look at the McCanns , leaving their toddlers in an apartment on their own 😩

Ask anyone who worked with children and families, from any relevant agency. They’ll be able to name families from any ‘class’ who are loving caring parents along with those who aren’t.

Depends on the child. My eldest would have been perfectly capable of inter-railing. His younger brother, mm maybe not until he was 25!

My husband went through Europe at 15 with his pal. No one batted an eyelid. This was 1975 though

I think as punishment she should be forced to live in a new build on an estate with a washing machine in the kitchen whilst she attends her ABC parenting course 😉

It was very, very much less prevalent.

The Ben Kinsella website keeps abreast of it, since Ben was stabbed to death, for no other reason other than he was walking home late at night, doing no harm to anyone.

Anyway, it's up to KA what she does, but posting it has backfired on her.

She'll get over it, I'm sure.

I quite agree JenniferEccles. The world is a dangerous place and there are so many things which could go wrong that two kids of this age wouldn't have the experience to cope with. Amazed that so many seem to think this is all right.

MissAdventure

How was knife crime in those days?

It wasn't unknown, by any means.

A couple of things: The boy is young for his school year group, having a July birthday, so most of his friends had already turned 16, some possibly close to 17 if they were September birthdays.
The family have a house in Devon but also mostly live in Notting Hill. He's used to negotiating London.
Social Services became involved because Kirstie had put the trip on Twitter and someone dobbed her (and presumably the father) in.
At 16, with no mobile phones etc, my family sent me off alone to visit my penfriend in France. I'd never been abroad. travelled from LHR to Paris, spent several hours looking at the sites with a girl I'd met on the plane then safely caught my train from Gare du Lyon to Montelimar. I think this boy would be perfectly fine. I'll I let my daughter, at 18, take her car and her boyfriend to Holland and then on to southern France, via Paris. I quake at the very idea of it now but the only dodgy moment was when I had a postcard from her saying that driving round the Arc de Triomphe was a bit hairy!

As a labour mp pointed out, much to Kirstie's annoyance, there is a difference between going to a known destination, where you are expected, than what she posted about.