Parent plans to crash senior trip

Dear Carolyn: My child is a senior in high school and will be graduating in June. Instead of the usual beach week, my child’s group of friends wants to go camping. I think this is a great idea and fully support it.

Within this group of kids, there are two couples. The mother of one of these four kids insists on going along, even though she has given her child permission to attend the same out-of-state college as her child’s significant other.

All of these kids will be 18. They are all trustworthy, smart, churchgoing kids with high morals. They want to avoid the beach week party atmosphere and have their own fun. My child is frustrated, and several of the kids are considering canceling if the parent goes along. Am I viewing this from the wrong side? - Anonymous

I think the only way to view something from the “wrong” side is to view it from only one.

As long as you waited to form your opinion until you considered the perspectives of others – including the seniors, the other mom, anyone who knows anything about camping, and, for some literary flair, a disinterested omniscient narrator (who’s cringing, I suspect) – you satisfied your obligation to be fair.

After that, if you feel strongly that this mother is overstepping, then talk to her.

Or, if you believe well-behaved 18-year-olds have earned the right to be treated as adults, and that’s why you think the mom is overstepping, then back that up.

And if you believe “high morals,” churchgoing and smarts inoculate anyone against impulsiveness or temptation – I’m not accusing, I’m merely being thorough – then history just fell off its chair laughing. Don’t ask more than human beings can give. The trust you need here is trust that these seniors can handle themselves, not that everything will be s’mores and campfire songs.