Mrs

[Willow]

My 15 yr old is travelling by train to a camp in Scotland today with 2 other lads from school. He had an email with travel arrangements and was sent a ticket. I decided to get train to Reading and see him off from there when he met the other 2. First worry was no sign of them and of course he hadn't put their mobile number in his phone. So I waved him off on the train to London and set off home.

 

I was almost when I got a panicky call from him. His ticket wouldn't work in the barrier and turned out his ticket wasn't eligible via London. So I told him to come back to Reading and talked him through finding a train back to Reading (he couldn't get through barrier to check times) and I decided i'd best go back to Reading to meet him and make sure he had a replanned route. The lad who made the arrangements had changed the travel plans and forgot to tell my son, so the father of the boy making the arrangements waited at Reading for my son to help him replan and the other boys went off before he got back to Reading. I got the ticket office of my local station to plan an alternative route for him whilst I waited for a train back to Reading and it was a good job I did.

 

The other lads father had only planned a route to get him to Edinburgh (wrong side of Scotland but a waypoint on some possible routes) and with an arrival time the same time he was going to be picked up at his destination.

 

I got him on the right train, but he now has 4 separate trains (not the mention the 3 he took already today). He doesn't get to his destination until 5pm if all goes ok and I'm now very anxious mum. Although giving him the impression of organised mum who can replan and sort out any problem at the end of the phone.

 

I know he's got as far as Wolverhampton and is checking for his train to Glasgow. He promised to ring me when he's safely on that train. I am going to be sooo relieved when he gets to camp tonight, hopefully with bag and rucksack.

 

I'm cross with the other lad for not updating my son that plans had changed and they weren't going via London any more. And cross with my son for not checking his travel arrangements over the w/e when we asked him to(he was away on work experience all last week but on-line in the evening and he had to w/e but spent t playing on computer games rather than sorting himself out) but obviously I'm not showing him I'm cross today, we'll have that talk when he gets home next week.

 

He could be going off on a gap year in 2 years time - that would stretch my ability to replan and sort him out remotely.

 

Is it always like this with teens ?

Edited July 23, 2012 by Guest

[lillybettybabs]

I think it's a teen boy thing, my s-sons are the same.

[patsylabrador]

That brought back memories of long, fretful days of watching the clock and imagining all the things that could go wrong. Try not to worry, once they get going, they realise that they can do it for themselves and enjoy the experience. Also, don't be sur

prised if he forgets to phone and you spend a good couple of hours wondering why he hasn't got there.

I've ended up as a sort of control base at times, finding routes, booking tickets, co-ordinating pick ups etc. It's exhausting! Mostly don't need to get involved now thank goodness although we occasionally have a flurry of worry. Hope his journey goes well.

[Willow]

Relief, he's now on the Glasgow train. Although he has two more trains once he gets to Glasgow he is pretty close once he gets to Glasgow.

 

He didn't really have any idea where he was going, he'd originally told the organisers I'd collect him from camp so he only needed a single ticket I'd put him right and checked he'd got a return ticket. I discovered yesterday he still didn't know where he was going and showed him the route on a map yesterday. He was rather taken aback to realise it was so far. I'm glad I did that at least it means he has some idea where he is. Next time he goes anywhere I'll insist he looks it up on a map and gets some idea of waypoints.

[LolaLayla]

Boys! My ES recently went abroad with a group of boys and I told him it may be a good idea for him (and us) to have the mobile numbers incase of emergency but not many of them bothered I travel to Glasgow occasionally and sometimes find my phone does not work on the train. It is fine in the station. I am just letting you know incase you try to get him and the number is u"Ooops, word censored!"tainable. I assume he it travelling to Glasgow Central? Is this his departing station or does he need to go to Glasgow Queen's Street for the next leg of his journey? Pm me if you need any information about the two stations

[Willow]

Pm me if you need any information about the two stations

 

Thank-you I will, I have a ques for the homeward journey next week.

[LolaLayla]

Ok, I will do what I can to help I know how worrying these things can be for us mums

[Willow]

The power of this forum strikes again. With LoloLayla's email advice with her local knowledge I managed to get my dozy teen from one station in Glasgow to another and onto the last train of his journey despite never having been in Glasgow. Even when he rang 10mins before the last train to say he couldn't see his train on the indicator board (he needed another part of the station and I had an email describing where to find it).

 

I love the way there is always someone here to call on for advice and support Less thrilled about teens that don't plan ahead

[freddie]

Aren't boys just great!!!

He's had some valuable experience, and also learnt(though he'll Never admit this) a valuable lesson called

Listen to Mother, she's not so stupid as you think.....

I have a teen boy, I sympathise!!

[chickencam]

Glad he got there safely, I have 3 badly organised teenagers so I feel your pain.

[WitchHazel]

Just caught up with this... did your son get home OK?

[Willow]

He just got back this evening. Had a great time at camp and very pleased with himself for getting there ok (especially getting through an hour before the lads he was going to travel with).

[LolaLayla]

Glad it all worked out ok

[WitchHazel]

very pleased with himself for getting there ok (especially getting through an hour before the lads he was going to travel with).

 

with himself

 

Glad he had a good time

[Willow]

with himself

 

Thanks Hazel that made me laugh - He did give mum a little credit too