Traveling By Yourself

College Life
21

<p>To clarify (OP, I apologize if I’m misreading your post), the big issue isn’t just flying alone. It’s the fact that the entire trip would be solo, including transportation (and he’s underage for most car rentals), accommodations, and so forth. He won’t be stepping out of the airport and into a friend’s waiting vehicle.</p>

<p>That might not change all of the points made above, but I think it does make the OP’s mom’s position a little more understandable. A plane flight alone–however long–is still a very different thing from an entire trip alone–however short. The latter involves a greater degree of planning, responsibility, maturity, and accountability.</p>

<p>Again, not claiming that this clarification will or should change minds…just pointing out a possible disparity between the original post and a number of respondents’ interpretations, thereof.</p>

22

<p>I travelled by myself for the first time when I was 16. I had never flown before either.</p>

<p>I flew from St. Louis to Newark where I was picked up by my uncle. Did some stuff there and then went down to Virginia for National Jamboree. Then I had to figure out Dulles Airport by myself, then flew to Hopkins in Cleaveland, and then back to St. Louis.</p>

23

<p>First time I flew by myself, I was 17 and I flew from NYC to Spain.</p>

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<p>Flying by yourself to meet someone is not traveling by yourself.</p>

25

<p>Flying sucks sometimes though I must admit (although the op is driving) i was in 10th grade when I was flying back from NY to OK (I’ve been flying alot before then anyhow but) and I lost my flight… twice. (one was their fault and the other was mine) I had to stay at a motel by myself and it was pretty exciting, lol. Enjoy the unexpected. I thought I would never make it because it took me like a day to fly across the country… but anyways I travel internationally by myself all the time and drive all over the place. :slight_smile: just enjoy your trip! But once again, I would take a friend just because it would be more fun that way.</p>

26

<p>my parents have been fiarly liberal about this issue.
the first time i ever flew by myself I was 8.
the first time i ever travled by myself I was 16. I spent a month in spain at a university there (not part of a program). now i was living with a family, but my parents had never meet them.
then last year i spent a month backpacking in fiji as part of the presbytary’s out reach. I doubt this is normal, but if it helps i made it!</p>

27

<p>wow when I first saw this thread I am thinking going to another country perhaps middle east concerns.</p>

<p>But no it is some 20 yr old whose mommy wont let them fly across the country.</p>

<p>Pathetic just make sure your mommy asks the flight attendant to watch you and hold your hand until someone picks you up</p>

28

<p>Well I think that ur mom still cannot accept that ur already 20, so u have to start little by little.. I think it is a good idea to travel alone so that ur mom realizes that ur not her little boy anymore.</p>

<p>My mom was also overprotected with me as I was the youngest, but some years ago I started doing everything on my own so she had to accept that she couldnt keep me always at home .
The first time I traveled alone was last month. I had just turned 18, and I went from Peru to Germany. I went lima-venezuela (stayed 16 hours there)-italy(stayed 6 hours)-dusseldorf; my family heard from me after 2 days and it was ok. After that I traveled 5 hours by train to Munich.</p>

29

<p>In my opinion, not only are you old enough to travel by yourself, it’s a vital and important part of your growth - as well as for your mom to learn to ‘let go’</p>

<p>I’m unclear what your mom’s concern is - whether she’s worried you’ll get lost, or be with unsafe companions (drinking, drugs, pregnancy) or… In all likelihood, she’s projecting her insecurities and fears onto you. Or, perhaps you have a history of losing your wallet and other belongings - ie, perhaps you have demonstrated to her that you are not able to make grown-up decisions. Or perhaps, she was brought up with a restrictive culture, and that’s her custom. In other words, there’s a lot we don’t know!</p>

<p>There isn’t much time between now and your proposed trip, so I can’t address that directly. I would NOT recommend that you go, against her wishes. I do recommend that the 2 of you take some short trips together, where you are navigating and in control, and she can see how you handle yourself. And find other ways to show that you behave as an adult -</p>

<ul>
<li>take care of the car and fill the tank</li>
<li>do the grocery shopping<br></li>
<li>make your own doctor & dentist visits</li>
<li>balance your checkbook</li>
<li>pay your bills on time</li>
<li>do your own laundry and clean your room</li>
<li>etc</li>
</ul>

<p>These are examples of ways that my daughters demonstrate to me that they are ready to take on responsibilities of adulthood. At 16, my older dd traveled 1 hour by plane to NYC (and stayed for a week, in Manhattan, traveling by herself), and at 17 she went to Peru.</p>

<p>BTW - a lot depends on the individual; I let my older dd do things that I might say ‘no’ to my younger daughter about; my younger dd looks young, and is empathetic to strangers</p>

<p>HTH - (and it would be helpful to know if you are m or f, and where your mom is from)</p>

30

<p>youre 20 man…youre old enough to make kids. maybe the only person who needs to grow up is your mom.</p>

31

<p>I’m 18 and travelled through Europe for three weeks by myself and am living to tell about it.</p>

32

<p>I have to say I can sympathize. I stayed home for college and it’s starting to get on my nerves because my parents expect me to ask for permission. it annoys me when they ask me things like “Where are you going? Who are you with? Don’t you have class today?” Especially since I’ve commuted to school in another city since I was 10. Obviously by now I can take care of myself. My older sister is very dependent on them. She’s in her mid twenties and still comes over the house all the time and asks my parents for advice. They expect me to be like that too, when I’ve always been more independent than she is (she’s never gone to school outside of our hometown.) And it’s really not their business whether I have class or not, because I am paying for college on my own. (I have a scholarship for 90% of the tuition and a student loan in my name for the rest; I also have a scholarship that pays for my books and bus passes, so they really don’t give me any money at all.) I can understand letting them know if I’m not going home that night, but the tracking of my whereabouts is pretty aggravating. I’m hopefully transferring, though, so I won’t have to worry about it come spring semester.</p>

33

<p>I started flying by myself when I was 9 (obviously would be dropped off and picked up at either end). I’ve traveled to Europe by myself and also to Asia.</p>

<p>You need to tell your mom that she’s turning you into a sheltered person. The whole purpose of going to college is to broaden your horizens and learn about unfamiliar things – so what’s the point in going if you can’t even travel an hour away from home without her freaking out?</p>

<p>I suggest sitting down with her and asking her exactly what her fears and conerns are about you flying to Phoenix by yourself. Phoenix, by the way, is a very suburban city, and I doubt you’ll be entering any of the ‘dangerous’ parts. </p>

<p>Also, remind your mom that you’re millions of times more likely to die in a car crash than a plane crash ;)</p>