Hi Mirrashards,
Welcome to the forum here. I am mum to an 18 year old son and 16 year old daughter. Our son never sneaked out but is more of a gamer so more likely to be online during the night than leaving the house, which is another story. Our daughter has only sneaked out once and that was about 3 years ago when a friend who was two years older was staying over. They might've sneaked out but they couldn't sneak back in because I'm a night owl and they got sprung out in the kitchen. I wasn't happy about it because of the deceit aspect of it and that we were also responsible for the friend. I spoke to both of them at the time from a position of being disappointed. I didn't yell or anything. I felt I needed time to think about it.
The other aspect about sneaking out, is that I had done it but when I was around the 16 year age mark. For me the key is to keep communication flowing and putting boundaries in place without that whole thing of "putting my foot down" which is adversarial. Maybe agreeing to a later curfew rather than have her sneak out. Being out with a group of friends rather than wandering the streets alone. I have told my daughter I will pick her up and usually pick her friend up and drive her home too.
Have you started driving lessons yet? This has been a great opportunity for my daughter and I to get closer, although there is understandably friction at times too. I found going driving together has been a great chance to chat and get closer.
I hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Birdwings
