15 yr old flying alone

[Owlie]

My parents are risk-averse. I didn't fly alone until I was in college. (Not that there was any reason to, as there weren't any relatives to send me to visit.)
They still told me to call them when I got to the gate for my connecting flights. BF's parents were sending him from Florida to California to visit his aunt when he was nine.

[marni]

My best friend and I flew alone to France when we were 16!

Memories

I flew alone (put on a plane at one end and met at the other) routinely between LA and Salt Lake City from age 6 onwards. I started taking the train overnight also alone when I was 12 and communted back and forth by grey hound bus from LA to Albuquerque from age 10 one each summer.

It was scary a bit at times, and yes those were safer times and adults always seemed to be there if I needed help but I quite liked the independence and having my own job.

Muirenn, I just noticed you are from Beaufort. That is one lovely little place. We lived in Jacksonville nc for several years and enjoyed exploring both NC and SC. I'll bet you have some lovely riding opportunities.

marni

[Crankin]

Slight Hijack...
Marni, was your DH in the military?
My son did some training in Jacksonville and said it was the "armpit of America!"
I loved Beaufort, too! Been there twice. Once, for boot camp graduation and another time, we did a trip to Hilton Head.

[tulip]

Hijack:

Crankin and Marni, I grew up in NC mostly. There's Beaufort (Bowfort), NC and Beaufort (Beeyuufort), SC. Different towns, different states. Many people lump "the Carolinas" together, but they are quite different, thankyouverymuch. Jacksonville NC is near Beaufort NC, not Beaufort, SC. Both Beauforts are very pretty, however.

[Crankin]

I meant the one in SC; I know about both of them, though.

[Melalvai]

I know a kid my daughter's age who has been flying by herself for years. She was champing at the bit to fly as an adult, rather than an Unaccompanied Minor. My daughter has barely flown at all, so she had almost no experience with airports at all. I remember the first time I flew by myself, I was about 25, and I'd hadn't flown much either, and I was pretty scared. It wasn't that I didn't think she could do it by herself so much as I was pretty sure she'd panic very easily if she didn't find the gate right away. That's why I kept her on the phone with me. I mostly just listened as she told me "Oh, here's a sign--nope, not that way". I was panic prevention more than guidance.

That said, the experience was possibly more stressful for her parents than it was for her. It was her choice to fly alone, we made sure she felt like she could handle it before making the travel arrangements. Back then she was excited and as it got closer she was getting cold feet.

I think she'll change a lot during her two weeks away. She's got a shy & insecure streak that is typical of girls her age and my sister & I both outgrew it. I'd be surprised if she doesn't gain a lot of confidence this summer.

[marni]

crankin,

apropos of thread hijack:

basically not in the military but in petro chemical and chemical engineering construction which is about the same. We have been married 37 years, moved internationally 13 times and lived in 9 different countries in that time.

My father wasn't in the military but he was brought into the country from Sweden to Los Alamos NM during the war (think Trinity Project) so I was born there and I grew up in NM with my father while my mother and sisters almost always lived elsewhere hence all the solo flights. It was a very happy marriage, they just had different careersthat they were committed to.

Tulip, Having spent some time in Jacksonville NC home of Camp Lejeune home of the worlds largest Marine assualt facility Uh Rah! I too am aware that there are to Beauforts and two Carolinas and have been to them both. In fact I was a very active docent at Tryon palace and helped train the lacemakers and weavers there.

You're right, they are both lovely and interesting places.

marni

tulip

[Jolt]

Slight Hijack...
Marni, was your DH in the military?
My son did some training in Jacksonville and said it was the "armpit of America!"
I loved Beaufort, too! Been there twice. Once, for boot camp graduation and another time, we did a trip to Hilton Head.

"Armpit of America"--usually that term is used for the state of New Jersey!! (Even though there are some really nice parts of NJ--my family lives there and the area is really not what one thinks of when they think of NJ)