When you're a parent, you know that you spend a large proportion of your time worrying about your kids when they're not with you - are they happy? Safe? Have they eaten?
These feelings last forever, even when your children have flown the nest.
But one mum took to Mumsnet to express her concerns about letting her teenage daughter fly abroad on her own, as her family was pressuring her to let her daughter go to Spain.
She wrote: "My mum is going to Spain this autumn for two months. She has done this a few times and usually, I have gone over alone to visit for a few days or have brought my children.
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"This year we have had lots of trips (Covid backlog) and with the children, I have been on a four-night city break with my mum and the grandchildren (I paid).
"I can’t go to Spain this year as I am short on holidays and have a couple of weddings etc towards the end of the year that require holidays and money.
"My mum is adamant that I send my children alone on a flight over to see her. My son is 10 so it’s not even an option as they wouldn’t take him and my daughter is 14 but I wouldn’t be at all comfortable sending her through an airport alone.
"My mum is fuming - she says I am ruining her break, ruining it for my children etc.
"She is a very dedicated granny and my children love her so am I being unreasonable for not allowing my children to travel?"
People were quick to suggest solutions to the stressed mum.
One wrote: "If she's that anxious to holiday with them tell her to fly back and collect the children and that she'll have to fly home with them also, I wouldn't let the 14-year-old go simply because it's so unfair on the 10-year-old."
Someone suggested helping her check-in, writing: "At 14 I would, you take her to the airport make sure she's checked in etc, grandma collects her the other end"
"I'd at least look at the unaccompanied minors service that airlines offer", one wrote.
Another said: "Your mum has no right to be fuming. She chooses to go away for two months. If she didn’t go away she could be seeing her grandchildren at home."
Would you feel comfortable allowing your child to go away at 14? Let us know in the comments.
