The teen had never been on a plane or even out of New England. But she didn't hesitate a minute when her friend's family invited her to Mexico.
“I wanted a tan,” explained Abbey, who was 16 at the time. “And I thought it would be more fun with someone else's parents because they wouldn't yell at you.”
Abbey returned tanned, her hair expertly braided, with a sheet full of e-mail addresses and phone numbers for her new resort-made friends.
“I think Abbey grew up a little that week,” says her mom. “She had to make her own decisions. She came home more independent.”
I'm a confirmed believer in bringing friends along. I've taken middle-schoolers to Europe, on cruises, and to Orlando. I've taken high schoolers to California and Hawaii. Their presence, I'm convinced, has meant we've had two happy, often giggling young travelers rather than a bored, sullen adolescent.
“With two of them, they're exploring, not being dragged along. It makes all the difference,” says Chicago mom Rosemary Thomas, who has invited an extra child along in the past.
Another plus: There are fewer sibling squabbles when a friend is along. And when there's a big gap in ages between the children – as in my own – the friend ensures that the oldest will have far more freedom than otherwise. “It makes it so much easier for everyone,” says Thomas.
That's especially true for families with just one child, parents tell me. They don't feel they must entertain their child 24-7 and they will benefit from another child's very different perspective – on the new places as well as their own family, enriching the experience for everyone.
The downside is that you'll invariably have less “family time.” And friends may fight. You've got to be prepared for that and to give them time to cool off.
Here's how to make bringing a friend work:
Chances are your guest will be a perfect angel. If you're lucky, their behavior will rub off on your kids.
By: Eileen Ogintz
