17-year-old declines to go on family camping trip, protests when they stay 4 days longer than expected and he runs out of food: 'They weren't there the next morning, or the day after'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Nov 19, 2025 9:00 AM EST

Independence is a skill that has to be taught.

Almost nobody is born with the innate knowledge of how to manage living on their own and attending to all of their basic needs. Once upon a time, every single one of us was pretty clueless on the matter. Some people also have the misfortune of never learning how to succeed at independent living, or it takes them a long time to grasp it.

A key part of parenting a teenager is giving them the tools that they will need to survive adulthood, and it could be argued that it is just as difficult as helping them hit their milestones when they're young. Without this, they may struggle in the simplest of situations, especially if they are unexpected. It does not bode well for either parents or kids when they are operating on a level that is not going to serve them well in adult life. 

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  • a young man looks in a refrigerator stocked with vegetables and drinks
    via Yunus Tuğ (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • In this story, a teen felt worried and ill-prepared when his parents and younger siblings went on a camping trip and told him they would return home the next day. They bought him a pizza and chips, but otherwise left him with little food in the house.

    The rest of the family ended up being on the trip for five days, without letting the 17-year-old know how long they would be gone. At this time, he ran out of food at home and resorted to travelling to his grandparents' house to eat, as he had no money to buy more food.

    When his parents returned, he expressed annoyance that he had been left for so long with no contact and that there had not been enough food to sustain him. However, his mom seemed to be equally annoyed that he had made these accusations. He wanted to know if he was in the wrong.

  • AITAH: Parents leave me home alone.

    A few months ago during summer break, I (17m) was asked if I wanted to go camping with my parents and siblings, I respectfully declined as I am not an outdoorsy person really and I figured they'd understand considering lve stayed home alone previous years, especially since somebody would have to keep an eye on the pets. (the cat somewhat disagrees with our birds)
    via LycheeWhole8170
  • So before they left, they got me some food (a bag of chips and a frozen pizza) then told me they'd be back the next morning, possibly the day after. I told then to have a good time and went about my business playing video games and whatnot.
    via LycheeWhole8170
  • However, they weren't there the next morning, or the day after. I was fine with this on the most part, I'd like to think that I'm capable of taking care of myself to a large degree, though at the time I didn't really have any spending money to go get more food. The house did have some food. (think a quarter loaf of bread, some fruit snacks, a few stray Ramen packets, but that's it really)
    via LycheeWhole8170
  • a top mount fridge with a variety of magnets on it
    via Cong Wang
  • On the third day I was legitimately running Out of food, and also starting to get worried about what may have happened. And on the forth day I was forced to walk to my grandparents house to go get more food, I also mentioned to my sister (who lives with my grandparents) that they'd been gone for so long, and she agreed that it was weird, and mentioned that i could call them on her phone if I was really worried. I was worried, but told her I'd wait one more day as I know sometimes they like to st
    via LycheeWhole8170
  • By the fifth day I was actually actively worrying for them, I was thinking that they mightve been in a car crash, or something happened while they were out in the woods an hour away from town.
    via LycheeWhole8170
  • But by midnight on the fifth day, they came home, talking about how nice it is to be back, acting as if nothing was wrong. I stayed polite for the sake of my little sisters (5 and 6 respectively) But once my mother (38f) was alone, I let her know that I was mad at her for being gone so long and leaving me such little food, I tried to be respectful while implying that I wad upset with her, to which she replied "Alright, DAD" in a sarcastic and argumentative tone.
    via LycheeWhole8170
  • I left the conversation alone after that, as I don't like to argue under any circumstances really, bug I feel like what I was upset about wasn't that unreasonable. AITAH?
    via LycheeWhole8170
  • a cup of cooked instant ramen
    via sq lim
  • RandolphE6 NTA to be upset. They should let you know if they are going to be longer than expected. But also you don't have to be so dramatic. You're 17. It's time to learn how to feed yourself.
    via RandolphE6
  • Icy-Experience1478 NTA Are you the adult or your mum? of course you'd be worried, two days and five days are two very different lengths of time. Maybe you should have a sit down and just express how concerned you were when you didn't hear from her for FIVE DAYS, and also make a point of stating you're capable of being home alone at 17 but ask her to consider ways or methods you can get or make food in this time period.
    via Icy-Experience1478
  • NothingtooSuspect I don't understand this, why not go to grandparents house sooner?, 5 days late home?
    via NothingtooSuspect
  • Fangs_McWolf NTA. The job of your parents includes providing for you. You weren't provided for and the reaction you received shows that your well-being isn't being taken seriously. Talk to your sister and get her help with your grandparents weighing in so your mom knows that she not only acted irresponsibly by not checking in, but leaving you with no food options beyond one night's worth.
    via Fangs_McWolf
  • Shin_Yodama Why are you not working? At your age I'd done manual labour for a local factory, and then been in the Army for a year. You should be providing for yourself by now.
    via Shin_Yodama
  • 401jamin Bro your 17 I really can't believe you came here and made a post about being home alone at 17. Maybe you need to do some growing up. Maybe your parents are also annoyed with you. Maybe it's time to rip the bandaid off and grow some wings. Maybe I'm completely wrong. All I know is at 17 you should be good dude.
    via 401jamin
  • StormCloudRaineeDay ESH. They're AHs for telling you they'll be back the next day and not coming back for five, and for not leaving you enough food for the amount of time they'd be gone; but you're an AH because your parents told you they'd be back the next day and when they weren't, or the next several days, with no contact, you never called the cops.
    via StormCloudRaineeDay
  • stallion8426 NTA. You had every right to be upset. Anything could have happened out there
    via stallion8426
  • temporalslice Sounds like a non issue. They should've told you, but you're going on like you were close to starving. 17 and with grandma close by? Power? Running water? Maybe just go camping next time. But I do agree that it's not right to tell somebody you're going to be one day and it's five. Maybe next time file a missing person's report.
    via temporalslice
  • CQ5II with 2 other young kids in the house, I assume there would be food in the freezer and pantry.. would you consider making it your "game" plan over the next few weeks to learn how to cook a few dishes for yourself? NTA though.. your parents didn't contact you that they would be away longer than they said
    via CQ5II
  • Key_Draft4255 If your parents are hoarders they have mental health issues. They did not leave you with adequate food. Your living conditions are probably not healthy. I hope you can get help from a counsellor at school. You need a support plan on how to move out and make a life for yourself after high school and how to learn coping mechanisms. I wish you the best of luck.
    via Key_Draft4255
  • Hwy_Witch Nta. My 16 yr old stays home alone a week or so once every few months, and I not only leave hime enough food for 5 kids, I make sure there's emergency cash, and he HAS to speak directly to me at least once a day. He knows roughly when I'll be home and if anything changes.
    via Hwy_Witch
  • howievermont YTAH, a 17yo should be able to buy food for themselves, if you were worried you could have used your phone to call them, your family was close by. grow up! i had my own place to live at 17.
    via howievermont
  • One_Violinist7862 NTA. No reasonable parent would do what they did.
    via One_Violinist7862

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aita Home Alone teenager parenting kitchen camping family grandparents food trip reddit thread Reddit parents
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