how do i convince my parents to let me fly solo across the country?

Ok, in a summary:

A company is thinking about sponsoring me for my skiing. The problem is that they are stationed in Texas, and im in Maine. If I went, id be an unaccompanied minor (UM) at the age of 13. if i did go, id meet one of my friends and her family, where i could stay. the big issue is that my parents dont know my friend's family very well.

So my question is, how do i convince my parents to let me go?

Thanks to all response

Yes.

Any time you can let your child go out on his own, it is for his or her benefit. Especially for something like this; furthering your skiiing career could be the greatest thing to happen to you. Whats next? Olympics? Who knows?!

And its not like youre going outside the states. Plus, Texans are some of the friendliest people I have ever met, and it is your friends family.

Idunno, my folks didnt keep my on a tight leash. When I was 13 we went to Europe and they me roam around on my own even though I did not speak a word of the country's language lol. They just made sure I knew the address of the place we were staying at. They flipped out once because I was gone watching a street musician for like 3 hours, but outside of that it was all right.

Looking back, my folks could have been a lot stricter and I am glad they were not. It made it a lot easier to make it on my own.

to Jandurin: Of course i want to go skiing. it wouldnt be in texas, but itd be for future trips. i would only be gone for a week.

To mrbojangles25: Thanks for your answer, it reassured me about what i just may be doing.

so far, its a 50-50 split in the votes, i could use some other voices. Also, id be going in christmas vacation two days after christmas.

ok. i totally want to go, but my parents are still... "iffy"

any advice on helping me attempt to convince them?

I would only allow it if i were allowed to drop you off and pick you up. If i were a parent and not able to do that then my answer would be no. From your Point of View i think it would be a great experience and something you probably will never forget so i say yes for your POV.

Try to convince them by saying it will be a great and memorable experience.

The answer is NO. And you shouldn't convince your parents to let you go. You're too young to understand what you're asking for.EMOEVOLUTION

Wouldn't it be easier to hitchhike with a man offering free candy? If not, then.... I'd say no, because kids suck, and I'm an ass.

**EDIT** I take back what I said, I actually took the time and read you post, and the only reason I am saying "Yes" Is because you have such good grammar for a 13y/o. So, have fun in Maine! Or were you going to Texas? Blah, I forget!

**EDIt 2** I'm on my 5th shot, sorry for the randomness Gamespot!!!

Tell them you're a vampire and that the only way to be cured of your illness is to visit your friend's scientist father who has an antidote.

It worked for me!

Wouldn't it be easier to hitchhike with a man offering free candy? If not, then.... I'd say no, because kids suck, and I'm an ass.Freebird8877

Amen to that good sir. :P

[QUOTE="Freebird8877"]Wouldn't it be easier to hitchhike with a man offering free candy? If not, then.... I'd say no, because kids suck, and I'm an ass.UnamedThing

Amen to that good sir. :P

Hey, I'm not ashamed. I'm tough, but fair! Also, I edited my post, so have another read!!! Also, thanks for the lolz.

How long will you be gone?

I'm leaning torwards no myself. How responsible are you?

Your parents would need to communicate and talk with her parents. Not a parent, but if I was, I would at least fly with you, and then fly back home, and I would probably let you fly back by yourself when it was all done.

try anything to go it's a once in a liftime thing and you'll probably regret it if you don't go.

you're a minor not an adult.

your etiher go with parents or stay home.

you're a minor not an adult.

your etiher go with parents or stay home.

fbigent34

Or you don't go with parents, and go by yourself! HA!, Never thought of that, did ya man? I'm always here to help.

All your parents have to do is take you to the airport, and your friends family meet you at the other end. If they don't show up you go back home. That way you're never "alone," and the airline will take care of you during the trip.... unless Godzilla attacks the plane.DigitalExile

My parents would probably let me. They want me to travel to get more knowledge of the world.

Me and my friends keep saying that the three of us should fly to Japan and go to one of those hotels where you get massages and other dirty stuff :lol: Besides Japanese women are hot! :D

[QUOTE="DigitalExile"]All your parents have to do is take you to the airport, and your friends family meet you at the other end. If they don't show up you go back home. That way you're never "alone," and the airline will take care of you during the trip.... unless Godzilla attacks the plane.hydralisk86

My parents would probably let me. They want me to travel to get more knowledge of the world.

Me and my friends keep saying that the three of us should fly to Japan and go to one of those hotels where you get massages and other dirty stuff :lol: Besides Japanese women are hot! :D

I_pWnzz_YoU

My parents would let me. Hopefully, I'll be visiting Japan next year in May or June

The real question is, why would you want to take a flight on any American airliner? I'm more afraid of the staff than I am of any terrorist. I say you should take the train or road trip.

And no, if I had a 13 year old kid, I wouldn't let them go on a plane solo.

Yes.

Any time you can let your child go out on his own, it is for his or her benefit. Especially for something like this; furthering your skiiing career could be the greatest thing to happen to you. Whats next? Olympics? Who knows?!

And its not like youre going outside the states. Plus, Texans are some of the friendliest people I have ever met, and it is your friends family.

Idunno, my folks didnt keep my on a tight leash. When I was 13 we went to Europe and they me roam around on my own even though I did not speak a word of the country's language lol. They just made sure I knew the address of the place we were staying at. They flipped out once because I was gone watching a street musician for like 3 hours, but outside of that it was all right.

Looking back, my folks could have been a lot stricter and I am glad they were not. It made it a lot easier to make it on my own.

mrbojangles25

you lucky douchebag :(

my parents wont even let me take a walk in the neighborhood unsupervised... and if im even just 5 minutes late from school, they start going around the neighborhood looking for me.

they have this weird mindset that "we live in america now, crazy people are EVERYWHERE" which i find stupid because there are crazy people all over the world, the media in america just blows it out or proportion.

The real question is, why would you want to take a flight on any American airliner? I'm more afraid of the staff than I am of any terrorist. I say you should take the train or road trip.

And no, if I had a 13 year old kid, I wouldn't let them go on a plane solo.

ElectronicMagic

this. and if they drive you there, they can meet your friends family to dispel any worries they had about them.

Why dont your parents go with you?

I know if my son was getting sponsored i would kind of want to be there when the paperwork goes down...

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

Yes.

Any time you can let your child go out on his own, it is for his or her benefit. Especially for something like this; furthering your skiiing career could be the greatest thing to happen to you. Whats next? Olympics? Who knows?!

And its not like youre going outside the states. Plus, Texans are some of the friendliest people I have ever met, and it is your friends family.

Idunno, my folks didnt keep my on a tight leash. When I was 13 we went to Europe and they me roam around on my own even though I did not speak a word of the country's language lol. They just made sure I knew the address of the place we were staying at. They flipped out once because I was gone watching a street musician for like 3 hours, but outside of that it was all right.

Looking back, my folks could have been a lot stricter and I am glad they were not. It made it a lot easier to make it on my own.

Xeros606

you lucky douchebag :(

my parents wont even let me take a walk in the neighborhood unsupervised... and if im even just 5 minutes late from school, they start going around the neighborhood looking for me.

they have this weird mindset that "we live in america now, crazy people are EVERYWHERE" which i find stupid because there are crazy people all over the world, the media in america just blows it out or proportion.

wow that sucks i tell my dad hey im gonna be gone till 9 pm he goes ok be back on time.

so i can pretty much do whatever i want.

If you have a bike just tell them your riding it and go whereever you want..

[QUOTE="Xeros606"][QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

Yes.

Any time you can let your child go out on his own, it is for his or her benefit. Especially for something like this; furthering your skiiing career could be the greatest thing to happen to you. Whats next? Olympics? Who knows?!

And its not like youre going outside the states. Plus, Texans are some of the friendliest people I have ever met, and it is your friends family.

Idunno, my folks didnt keep my on a tight leash. When I was 13 we went to Europe and they me roam around on my own even though I did not speak a word of the country's language lol. They just made sure I knew the address of the place we were staying at. They flipped out once because I was gone watching a street musician for like 3 hours, but outside of that it was all right.

Looking back, my folks could have been a lot stricter and I am glad they were not. It made it a lot easier to make it on my own.

cs45F

you lucky douchebag :(

my parents wont even let me take a walk in the neighborhood unsupervised... and if im even just 5 minutes late from school, they start going around the neighborhood looking for me.

they have this weird mindset that "we live in america now, crazy people are EVERYWHERE" which i find stupid because there are crazy people all over the world, the media in america just blows it out or proportion.

wow that sucks i tell my dad hey im gonna be gone till 9 pm he goes ok be back on time.

so i can pretty much do whatever i want.

If you have a bike just tell them your riding it and go whereever you want..

they wont let me have a bike for that exact reason. :| and theyre always paranoid about what im doing, my mom once asked me if she could search my wallet, i said no because thats kind of stupid and i was tired and just wanted to relax after a day at school, then she said "why, are you hiding drugs? are you doing drugs? let me see your eyes." they are really overprotective, its driving me crazy.

wow, i got some feedback

anyways, ill try to answer all the questions i can remember reading:

I have a 7 day period where i can travel without missing school

Although im not exactly sure what airliner id be going on, most give you something to identify you as a UM (such as a hat or a badge) and the airports keep a close eye on you

Yes, the family would meet me at the airport

im trying to set up a phone conversation with our parents. if thats not good enough, i can get a web-cam.

as far as responsible goes, i cant truly say, but i can say that ive gotten strait As from 5th grade, ive never had any sort of run-in with cops or police, and supposedly im "too" polite.

if my parents were to go with me, theyd be spending a good $700 more and really, who wants to travel 8 hours just to go and do it again?

This could be for my career. as ive said in some of my follow-up posts, i obviously wouldn't ski in Texas, but itd be for later use. who knows what could spark? maybe a top-rated video game would be made and you will all soon be mindlessly gouging my body by attempting to grind a rail?

* thanks to everyone. its really nice to hear both the go-for-its and the dont-go sides.

[QUOTE="I_pWnzz_YoU"]

My parents would probably let me. They want me to travel to get more knowledge of the world.

Me and my friends keep saying that the three of us should fly to Japan and go to one of those hotels where you get massages and other dirty stuff :lol: Besides Japanese women are hot! :D

vidplayer8

My parents would let me. Hopefully, I'll be visiting Japan next year in May or June

Nice, Japanese sex hotels await you :lol: