Teenagers Today's Health Advisory Panel Answers: Am I too liberal in thinking my 18-year-old son's travels to Europe with friends could be a great learning experience?

By Chris Crutcher Author Licensed Child and Family Therapist

Question:

My 18-year-old son wants to travel to Europe with two friends for 21 days after high school graduation. My wife thinks they cannot deal with the myriad of problems that may or may not happen. Am I too liberal in thinking their travels could be a great learning experience?

Answer:

If you are, you're liberal like I am. I know it can be scary, but they will learn so much by going out and doing. There is risk to everything, and I wouldn't consider it too far out at all. Dealing with the myriad of problems will teach them to deal with myriads of problems. To be fair to your wife, there may be a male/female thing going here, but most of the women I check with for counsel would say the same thing. In fact, many of them did it.