Out after dark
@sprite1950 (30461)
Corsham, England
November 25, 2019 12:44am CST
Being the care giver of a 13 year old presents it's challenges as they like to push boundaries. The latest with my granddaughter is the staying out after dark issue. She thinks she should be allowed to stay out but I think she is still too young. The world can be a dangerous place once the shadows fall especially for young and vulnerable girls.
However I came up with a plan. She told me that "all her friends are allowed to stay out" which I knew wasn't true. I told her she could stay out until her friends did and then she must come in. I took a bit of risk but it worked out well as her friends had to be in by dark so she comes in too! It seems to be working well at the moment so let's hope it stays that way. Roll on the summer months.
10 people like this
11 responses
@toniganzon (77064)
• Philippines
25 Nov 19
My son never really insisted on staying out till dark until he started dating recently. He's 15. But he still always ask permission to stay a little bit late in school and then we'd pick him up around 7pm.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (77064)
• Philippines
26 Nov 19
@sprite1950 That's true. At 13, I went home immediately right after school. And though my son is allowed to be out until 7pm, we still pick him up and we don't allow him to take public commute. So we are always aware where he goes.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
26 Nov 19
@toniganzon You are wise. I think it's important to know where they are at all times
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@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
25 Nov 19
I think that's sensible but I always feel that girls are more vulnerable since most predators are male. I shall be glad when the lighter nights are here again.
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@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
25 Nov 19
I think 1 am is far too late for a 15 year old. Some kids do rebel but I tell my granddaughter I am just trying to keep her safe and not spoil her fun.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
25 Nov 19
@Janet357 Shge usually goes quiet when I say that although children of that age never think anything is going to happen to them. They just don't see the danger.
@LadyDuck (502190)
• Italy
25 Nov 19
I remember that the mother in law of my brother called me to complain because my brother allowed his daughter (my niece) to stay out late in the evening when she was only 14. I disagreed with my brother but there was nothing I could do. When I tried to discuss with him he told me "to mind my own business": Nice brother I have.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
26 Nov 19
14 is too young to stay out. I would rather have Teagan's friends in the house at that age as anyone could pick them up.
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@LadyDuck (502190)
• Italy
26 Nov 19
@sprite1950 That was also my opinion, but it seems that my brother thought that his daughter could do what she liked at 14. I would say she was lucky that nothing bad ever happened.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502190)
• Italy
27 Nov 19
@sprite1950 My niece is now 35 and she pretends that she appreciates that her father gave her so much freedom because he learnt to pay attention and to grow up more responsible. Lies! She loved to go out and she does not want to admit that she choose to stay with my brother when he divorced because she knew she had more freedom.
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
25 Nov 19
Truly teenagers have their own way but it looks like the grandma is smarter, waheehee. Nice one.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
25 Nov 19
Haha, yes she thinks she has got her way and doesn't realise I outsmarted her 
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
25 Nov 19
@Alexandoy Yes I know, she already has a few times!
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@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
25 Nov 19
@sprite1950 I will clap, clap to that. But don't get complacent because kids will outsmart us sooner or later.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
28 Nov 19
I shall be glad when the light nights are here again and I won't have to worry so much.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
30 Nov 19
@nela13 Yes they start to get light at the end of February but it's dark here at 4.30 pm here at the moment.
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@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
25 Nov 19
Handling a teenage is always so difficult
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@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
25 Nov 19
It really is but thankfully they usually grow out of most of their bad habits
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@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
25 Nov 19
@sprite1950 yes..but that phase is undoubtedly very difficult to handle.
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@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
25 Nov 19
@amitkokiladitya Yes, she has some good qualities too and I hope she grows up well
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@msdivkar (23356)
• India
25 Nov 19
We are a very conservative families here in India and do not allow even the grown up single girls late in the night let alone 13 year ones. There was a famous case of a 14 year girl from England raped and killed. her body found on the beach in Goa. She was regularly attending night pubs.
1 person likes this
@msdivkar (23356)
• India
25 Nov 19
@sprite1950 I know here also that fever is catching up fast.
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@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
25 Nov 19
Oh yes, that is why she has to be in before dark but there are some who let their children out far too late here.
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
26 Nov 19
@sprite1950
That is a very cool picture. If you tell her she cannot she will continue to do it. How sad she does not want to understand. You are very right the world is a dangerous place. Good plan you came up with.
1 person likes this
@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
27 Nov 19
When she gets older she will understand why I put restrictions on her.
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@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
23 Dec 19
Yes despite all the teenage tantrums there are times when we get on really well.
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it worked@sprite1950 (30461)
• Corsham, England
26 Nov 19
For now but I hope that some of the other parents don't start letting their children out late.
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