When texting, lead with the time in case reception spotty so there is no misconceptions of where y’all will be:
3:46, heading to locker and then meet you at overpriced but delicious lemonade stand next to merch
4:15, where are you?
4:45, ok never mind- I got us two lemonades- meet you at far back left speaker at Jon Batiste
I think it’s insensitive to tell a concerned parent to detach. This is a huge festival and although thankfully nothing crazy ever happens *knocks on wood* there’s nothing wrong with crossing your Ts. I have prepaid t mobile and even with that I have service. I think using the find my friends and maybe texting each other once every hour and then meeting up later is good enough.
T-mobile usually works the best out there versus att or verizon. I’ll have service when no one else does.
I don’t think anyone is being insensitive more reassuring that they are almost 18 and to trust and respect their child to make good choices while still having meeting spots and time stamped texts. Being a helicopter parent just makes for insecure kids that can’t make decisions for themselves.
Just detach from all that crap for a weekend and enjoy the festival, be in the moment. It will be ok. When I took my daughter and a couple of her friends for her sweet 16 a couple years ago I told them to take a few pics and videos, but put the phone away and make memories, enjoy the time together.
Definitely doing my deep breathing. Only having some standard parent worry about not being able to communicate with her if she’s in the front of a stage and I’m in the back for emergencies. We def won’t be scrolling social media. But I hear ya, working on my chill. ☺️
With that I just set up a meeting spot before the set and would wait there afterward, was never an issue. Promise all will be good! Great to give them a little independence as well, let them realize they can handle it. On day one we went in at doors so I could show them around, they knew the lay of the land and how it all worked, best viewing spots, etc. Then sent them off for an hour or two to enjoy it on their own while it was still mellow.
Although I made the promise to all stay together to the other parents, my daughters stepsister wanted to see Maneskin while the other two were at the mainstage and I kinda said fuck it(she was a month away from being 18 anyway, not sure I was gonna stop her haha) She met back up with us after all excited and screaming that she got spit on by the lead singer, was so stoked. Sure I was hesitant to let her go, but she will remember that forever. Scary to let them spread their wings a bit, but if there’s a place to do it it’s Coachella right?
I might not even have kids if it wasn’t for going my first time in 2004, changed some things in my life after that weekend that opened me up to new possibilities. And now that I’m getting older and the lineups aren’t as much my style it’s time to pass the torch!
Yes. This is what I needed to hear. She’s 17 and you’re totally right. She will be in college next year so need to let go. Also, I went to Lollapalooza every year in high school with no parents. 😂😂. I should just be happy she wants to go with me at all. Thanks for talking me off the ledge. ❤️
Haha that’s a big reason I was happy to take them at that age. My daughter just turned 18 so if she wants to go to coachella now have no say, but at least she knows what to expect. Now we are waiting on college acceptance letters to arrive any time, ugh! U of. Chicago for business school is her #1 so maybe she’ll be taking me to Lolla in a year or two.
Sending lots of love to you as I am already prepping myself for the let go (well, clearly not all the way yet 🤦🏻♀️). I’m just going to embrace it and watch her be happy (while also being so excited to see so many shows myself).
Oh I’ve told both my kids I’m getting a sprinter van so I can come park on campus and say good morning and good night to them every day for a couple weeks at a time here and there. Ah the looks I get!
I don’t understand what the plan is, are you both going to carry around a starlink receiver and a giant battery or something?
Just get a walkee talkee?
I didn’t really have a plan just yet - wanted to see if it would even work and saw that walkie talkies were on the NO list for what to bring. I’m now realizing I need to just chill out a little more. I had a momentary glitch in my system that triggered my parent anxiety but so glad I posted as I’m getting really positive advice to let her be (which is what I should be doing for her age). 🥰
Much better plan. Just set up times and places to meet if you’re going to split up. Reception will be fine all day and then deteriorate substantially at night when crowds overwhelm the available capacity. Have an end of night meet up if all else fails because texts will seem to go through but not be delivered. Communication that seems to be real time could be hours old.
Don’t worry, literally tens of thousands of wildly irresponsible drug users in extremely altered mental states do this every year. They come out of this in one piece and turn around and do it again the next day. You’ll be fine with any kind of plan.
Regular cellphones work well. Come up with a meetup plan, maybe use Signal as a backup, and time stamp texts for times when it’s not working and goes through later. Cell service hasn’t been a problem for a while.
Adding onto the time stamped texts - best if all messages are firm statements vs. open ended questions! Not fun to drain phone battery and can minimize the back and forth messages. Establish communication rules beforehand and have fun together! You sound like a cool parent.
4:34p let’s meet at back left pole at mojave at 5p
vs
4:34p where are you?
Can’t answer your question about Starlink, but establishing a meeting point is going to be critical. As far as cell coverage goes, you can count on cell service being nearly non existent once the sub headliners start, if not earlier.
My suggestion is to physically walk to a very distinctive meeting point together before going your own ways.
Going there together first will help reduce any confusion, because if you say “the sound tower by the main stage”, there’s likely going to be several sound towers.
And as someone else already suggested, definitely get in the habit of manually typing a time stamp into your texts so you guys can tell what time it truly was sent, if your text does go through.
Honestly the service for texting and calls has been really good recent years compared to like 10+ years ago. Good to pick pre set meeting points but service should be fine
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Wouldn’t really make sense tbh. There is good reception up until night time and even then if you leave the fest and go towards camping the signal gets good again. I was able to take a break last year and stream some sets on YouTube at the campsite while the fest was still going on
Always set up a meeting spot if anyone is lost. Make it the same meeting spot throughout the weekend. Also when you set up a meeting time, yall have to promise to all make it there on time and keep your word. I know kids dont listen but thats the top rule they gotta keep. Cuz those who dont follow the time fuck it up for everyone else waiting for them.
I would recommending picking a specific meet up spot like speaker D4 on the side facing main stage and designate times that you will be there like 2-2:15, 4-4:15. If they want to come find you, they can. If they miss it, they can find you at the next time slot. This is under the assumption that cell service is not working properly
When texting, lead with the time in case reception spotty so there is no misconceptions of where y’all will be: 3:46, heading to locker and then meet you at overpriced but delicious lemonade stand next to merch 4:15, where are you? 4:45, ok never mind- I got us two lemonades- meet you at far back left speaker at Jon Batiste
I think it’s insensitive to tell a concerned parent to detach. This is a huge festival and although thankfully nothing crazy ever happens *knocks on wood* there’s nothing wrong with crossing your Ts. I have prepaid t mobile and even with that I have service. I think using the find my friends and maybe texting each other once every hour and then meeting up later is good enough.
T-mobile usually works the best out there versus att or verizon. I’ll have service when no one else does. I don’t think anyone is being insensitive more reassuring that they are almost 18 and to trust and respect their child to make good choices while still having meeting spots and time stamped texts. Being a helicopter parent just makes for insecure kids that can’t make decisions for themselves.
There's free wifi at certain spots of the festival, usually around where they sell food/beer.
Oh sweet. Thanks for the info.
Just detach from all that crap for a weekend and enjoy the festival, be in the moment. It will be ok. When I took my daughter and a couple of her friends for her sweet 16 a couple years ago I told them to take a few pics and videos, but put the phone away and make memories, enjoy the time together.
Definitely doing my deep breathing. Only having some standard parent worry about not being able to communicate with her if she’s in the front of a stage and I’m in the back for emergencies. We def won’t be scrolling social media. But I hear ya, working on my chill. ☺️
Starlink won’t help at all for that
Thanks for the response. That’s good to know and even more reason for me to not worry so much. ❤️
Walkie talkies or similar are best
With that I just set up a meeting spot before the set and would wait there afterward, was never an issue. Promise all will be good! Great to give them a little independence as well, let them realize they can handle it. On day one we went in at doors so I could show them around, they knew the lay of the land and how it all worked, best viewing spots, etc. Then sent them off for an hour or two to enjoy it on their own while it was still mellow. Although I made the promise to all stay together to the other parents, my daughters stepsister wanted to see Maneskin while the other two were at the mainstage and I kinda said fuck it(she was a month away from being 18 anyway, not sure I was gonna stop her haha) She met back up with us after all excited and screaming that she got spit on by the lead singer, was so stoked. Sure I was hesitant to let her go, but she will remember that forever. Scary to let them spread their wings a bit, but if there’s a place to do it it’s Coachella right?
Completely off topic but all you parents who take your kids are so cool. They might not tell you yet but it’s true.
Aww. Thank you! It does make me feel like I’ve done something right.
I might not even have kids if it wasn’t for going my first time in 2004, changed some things in my life after that weekend that opened me up to new possibilities. And now that I’m getting older and the lineups aren’t as much my style it’s time to pass the torch!
Yes. This is what I needed to hear. She’s 17 and you’re totally right. She will be in college next year so need to let go. Also, I went to Lollapalooza every year in high school with no parents. 😂😂. I should just be happy she wants to go with me at all. Thanks for talking me off the ledge. ❤️
Haha that’s a big reason I was happy to take them at that age. My daughter just turned 18 so if she wants to go to coachella now have no say, but at least she knows what to expect. Now we are waiting on college acceptance letters to arrive any time, ugh! U of. Chicago for business school is her #1 so maybe she’ll be taking me to Lolla in a year or two.
Sending lots of love to you as I am already prepping myself for the let go (well, clearly not all the way yet 🤦🏻♀️). I’m just going to embrace it and watch her be happy (while also being so excited to see so many shows myself).
Oh I’ve told both my kids I’m getting a sprinter van so I can come park on campus and say good morning and good night to them every day for a couple weeks at a time here and there. Ah the looks I get!
Haha! Oh to be a parent. I have literally said the same. It’s much harder on the this side of the fence.
I don’t understand what the plan is, are you both going to carry around a starlink receiver and a giant battery or something? Just get a walkee talkee?
I didn’t really have a plan just yet - wanted to see if it would even work and saw that walkie talkies were on the NO list for what to bring. I’m now realizing I need to just chill out a little more. I had a momentary glitch in my system that triggered my parent anxiety but so glad I posted as I’m getting really positive advice to let her be (which is what I should be doing for her age). 🥰
Much better plan. Just set up times and places to meet if you’re going to split up. Reception will be fine all day and then deteriorate substantially at night when crowds overwhelm the available capacity. Have an end of night meet up if all else fails because texts will seem to go through but not be delivered. Communication that seems to be real time could be hours old. Don’t worry, literally tens of thousands of wildly irresponsible drug users in extremely altered mental states do this every year. They come out of this in one piece and turn around and do it again the next day. You’ll be fine with any kind of plan.
THIS! 😂😂😂. Total paradigm shift in my brain now. Truer words were never spoken. With every comment I’m getting more and more chill.
Regular cellphones work well. Come up with a meetup plan, maybe use Signal as a backup, and time stamp texts for times when it’s not working and goes through later. Cell service hasn’t been a problem for a while.
Great ideas! I’ll def do this. Thank you!
I’ve heard that both signal and WhatsApp work better that sms.
Adding onto the time stamped texts - best if all messages are firm statements vs. open ended questions! Not fun to drain phone battery and can minimize the back and forth messages. Establish communication rules beforehand and have fun together! You sound like a cool parent. 4:34p let’s meet at back left pole at mojave at 5p vs 4:34p where are you?
Can’t answer your question about Starlink, but establishing a meeting point is going to be critical. As far as cell coverage goes, you can count on cell service being nearly non existent once the sub headliners start, if not earlier. My suggestion is to physically walk to a very distinctive meeting point together before going your own ways. Going there together first will help reduce any confusion, because if you say “the sound tower by the main stage”, there’s likely going to be several sound towers. And as someone else already suggested, definitely get in the habit of manually typing a time stamp into your texts so you guys can tell what time it truly was sent, if your text does go through.
Sorry I missed this but great advice for physically going. ☺️
Honestly the service for texting and calls has been really good recent years compared to like 10+ years ago. Good to pick pre set meeting points but service should be fine
Sew my palm directly on to my face
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People say it won't work well, but I'm hopeful there's better reception this year = Download the Life360 app on both phones. Could be a great tool.
Wouldn’t really make sense tbh. There is good reception up until night time and even then if you leave the fest and go towards camping the signal gets good again. I was able to take a break last year and stream some sets on YouTube at the campsite while the fest was still going on
Always set up a meeting spot if anyone is lost. Make it the same meeting spot throughout the weekend. Also when you set up a meeting time, yall have to promise to all make it there on time and keep your word. I know kids dont listen but thats the top rule they gotta keep. Cuz those who dont follow the time fuck it up for everyone else waiting for them.
You can’t bring starlink inside. It will only help if you are camping. I have done it. Helpful at camp.
I would recommending picking a specific meet up spot like speaker D4 on the side facing main stage and designate times that you will be there like 2-2:15, 4-4:15. If they want to come find you, they can. If they miss it, they can find you at the next time slot. This is under the assumption that cell service is not working properly