Thoughts? Non camping related

[Swannie]

Hi guys, my 14 year old son Tom ( who plenty have met on here) has the opportunity to travel to Europe with his grand parents for 5 weeks in July. This is a bit confronting for my wife & I as we are really conflicted as to what to do. ( I also have no issue paying for the trip).

His grandfather is mid 70's & they are heading back to the homeland Malta. My wife thinks that it's an opportunity for my son to travel with his grandfather & an opportunity that he most likely wont get again and thinks he should go. I on the other hand am worried, I'm concerned of him missing school which he is handling really well. And also worried of him being away from the family for that amount if time etc. he is a great kid and very mature for his age & loves being with his pa
Am I just being selfish with my thoughts? Am I'm worrying over nothing?

Starsky

[Nomad]

Let him go dad!

[Bird]

The school would concern me too... but speak with the school.. cammo goes back to Shitville US for 5 weeks at a time

Family is always family and I'd let him go with you mate.. Memories etc

Plus people travel aussie all the time without issues for months on end

edit: or leave him home and take me

[Rumpig]

If you trust the grand parents to look after him, he'll learn more in 5 weeks of being overseas then school can ever teach him.

[shrek4]

I'm a Principal, my advice.... let him go with his pa.


The experience would be fantastic and a great motivator at that age.


I'd be jumping at the opportunity with both feet!

[Swannie]

The school would concern me too... but speak with the school.. cammo goes back to Shitville US for 5 weeks at a time

Family is always family and I'd let him go with you mate.. Memories etc

Plus people travel aussie all the time without issues for months on end

edit: or leave him home and take me

That's the thing Bruce I'm not going!! It's called to much work!

[tryagain]

he'll learn more in 5 weeks of being overseas then school can ever teach him.

My mum was a teacher for many years and when parents would come with similar questions she would say this especially if he is already doing fine at school.

[Bird]

That's the thing Bruce I'm not going!! It's called to much work!

well pay for me and I'll go!

He loves his pa, hes a great kid.. just buy him a ****in passport

[callmejoe]

I has a similar opportunity when i was the same age. Not as long but similar. I'm now in my 40's. I still remember it well, it was definitely a high light of my "younger" life.
Opportunity like this don't come round often... 
NOT EVERYTHING IS LEARNT IN A SCHOOL ROOM..

Joe

[Shaun99]

Missing five weeks of school for a 14 year old is nothing, the memories he gains will last your son his lifetime; and will serve better in the long run, far more than anything he could possibly learn stuck in school with a bunch of kids picking their nose and making fart jokes!

Your son will thank you in years to come!

[Titfish]

No amount of schooling could provide such an experience. My thoughts as a teacher would be that if you contact the school well in advance to put into place anything that needs to be done prior to leaving such as exams, assessments etc then all should be good. In the big scheme of things it is only half a term. His view of the world will be greatly enhanced by the trip.
One other thought. If you don't let him go will you kick yourself later in life when the opportunity doesn't exist anymore?
Cheers
Ken

[weeds]

Must be grade 9 or 10??

July normally has at least one week school holiday.......

School seems to get really serious in grades 11/12.

[jayjay]

Agree!! Life is either grabbed with both hands or can be missed windows of opportunities!
And to think he has grandparents who want to do this!!! A lot of kids don't have that.... you can't deny him this. If your boy wants to go, and your parents want to take him- are you really going to get in the way?? So long as you are satisfied that they are responsible grandparents !!
In the bigger scheme of things, the bit he will miss at school can be easily caught up. After all, it isn't like he is in year 12!

[GeoffA]

Greg, 5 weeks is but a blink in Tom's schooling.
The memories of the trip with his grandparents will stay with him forever.

[scrapsD40]

If you trust the grand parents to look after him, he'll learn more in 5 weeks of being overseas then school can ever teach him.

X2. We took our boys OS as soon as we could (to Thailand) so they has some exposure to other cultures and would recommend it to everyone that could. We delayed the purchase of a house to fund the trip and it's costing us now as we still have a mortgage to pay off, but believe it was worth it.

Both boys are now seasoned travellers in their own right and more street smart than most others as a result.

I'd be more concerned about some of the dodgy characters he's met on a Myswag meet

[brickiematt]

I say let him go and have the time of his life. He can catch up on his schooling when he gets back, but the experiences he will have while away will be priceless to him.
We are in a similar situation with our youngest daughter (15). She is currently away for 10 weeks at a student leadership school. Not doing normal school curriculum, but learning life skills which cannot be taught at school. We have no qualms about her missing a whole term of lessons, she'll catch up soon enough.

He'll have a ball and thank you for it!

[AdrianLR]

+1 to the above. If you're paying high enough school fees then the school would probably be sending the year 9 ratbags of to a 3 - 6 month camp anyway given that they don't learn much sitting in class at that age

[GanG]

+1 what an awesome opportunity for a young fella

[V8CRSA]

Mate it's an awesome opportunity for him, you must let he go.
My grandparents went back home after many years when I was in my 20's for the first time in nearly 40 years, they didnt talk about it much after that. I have since lost them as well as all our family history.
Tom can go and see where his family comes from, that can never be taken away from him mate.
He can catch up on a few weeks of school.

Matt

[Bird]

got the message yet???

[Redcherokee]

Funny. We were just talking about the trip I did with my Nanna.  Long train trip, then staying with relos.  Lots of growing up in a short space of time.  40 years ago, and I still talk about it!

Let him go.

[GeoffA]

got the message yet???

[McTavish]

Fantastic opportunity...    x everything said above !!

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Opportunities like this come round very seldom.
Look at it the other way.  He'll be looking after his Pa.
You can't go, so send him instead.   5 Weeks in July, No problem. 
He'll catch up on the weekend, after he gets back.
Exams are late November aren't they?

He'll never forget it, either way. 
And it'll teach him way more than 5 weeks at school will.

[lino6]

If you have the temp 14 year old position at your place I'd like to apply. I'm sure Nay-DMAX would give me a reference! Actually I may not have reached Tom's maturity level yet 

Let him go. Reckon you might regret it if you don't.