I have always had a very close relationship with my son. He is 16 now and has always been very mature and responsible.

He hardly ever goes out except the occasional restaurant for friends birthdays but that's it. We live in the country and have to drive him wherever he wants to go and he knows and we will take him anywhere he wants, whenever he wants. He has a huge group of friends at school but they all live far away from us and he says that it is too embarrasing for him to have his parents driving him around. He is working towards his permit but will not reach legal driving age till november. So he stays home nearly all of the time.

A few months ago, he wanted to go to a party. His father and I were happy to hear that he would 'let us' drive him over. A few hours after we had left him there, he called his dad to pick him up. He was so drunk he could hardly talk. He lost his cell, threw up on himself and was horribly embaressed the next day. He swore that he would never, ever drink again. We got into an argument with the parents that were present at the party...they felt that we were from mars if we expected no alcool at the party.

Am I the only parent that assumes that kids and drinking do not necessarily have to go hand in hand. I don't drink and have a great time at parties and try to teach my kids that drinking is not what makes a party fun.

The problem we are now facing is that we have a motorhome. It's the only way for agoraphobic me to get out of the house. We enjoy camping and he doesn't want to come. He will sulk and watch tv in the motorhome all weekend. Everyone is telling me to leave him home, that he is old enough. I know that he is old enough but I'm afraid to think that he may do something and need us and we won't be there.

What do you all think?

No you are not the only one. My husband and I always felt that way and we never even saw our son drink a beer until after he was 21 and asked if we minded if he had one when we went to dinner at the college he attended. Now I am NOT naive enough to think he didn't drink in college. Luckily he was on a college sports team so he did have to behave himself somewhat. One time when he was in HS, there was a party at a friend's house and I was surprised he didn't go. Well a couple of days later I found out why. Those parents allowed the kids to drink if they gave up their keys. Our son told us he knew this and decided he didn't want to go. The parents who held this party got in big trouble with the law. I am not judging the parents as they did take the keys away and nobody made those kids drink but we would NEVER have done that.
I was proud that my son was smart enough not to go. Keep up your good values...we may not always know it but they do rub off on our children.

Linda,
Actually, those parents should of been turned in , its illegal for kids that age to have alcohol. They allowed it, and they should know better.
Its a shame, but most kids try alcohol around that age. Mine did. Im not so sure you should leave him at home if you go out of town though, even if he sulks.
I have a 17yr old grandson and my daughter and her husband came down to visit us for the day. They left him at home,, but they were returning late that night.
Sure enough, when they got home, they caught a house full of kids drinking and partying. Just so happened, some older kids brought the alcohol.
So that was the end of him staying home, when they go somewhere.
Maybe if you go on the RV, he could invite a freind to go? Then he would have someone to do things with.
I admire the fact that you are concerned about leaving him home... I beleive in letting go and allowing them to become responsible to, but not at the age of 16.... Nelly

hey there girls, i tried to prevent that from happening. mine were 16 and 15. 16 had licence and car. i told them i was taking the keys to the car. dumb@ss me. they had keys made before we left.and they partied down. the ones with older brothers bought the alcohol. they probably had some drugs too. i would'nt leave him alone kp

THank you for taking the time to reply. I greatly apreciate it. You never think that your own son, who you love and trust, would do anything that he KNOWS we wouldn't agree with.

We had a talk with him (several actually) and he will be coming with us for the fist week (he doesn't want to bring a friend) and for the second week, we will bring him back home and his grand-mother will stay over with him.

This solution seems to make everyone happy and comfortable.