When I'm 18 I will go up and stay in the twin city's and volunteer for the summer. My aunt and uncle would be happy to have me.
I want you to stay on this forum, because, everyone (whether old or new to parrots) 500% needs this resource as a forum, that goes for all of use (old or new). I'm going to be real with you, despite your age----please know that you cannot know what you do not know until it is too late for you to admit that you didn't know what you needed. I am not bluffing when I tell you how tragic the pet trade has been for U2s--- no one who gets one initially wants to contribute more to these birds as statistics, yet people do so daily.,,over and over. While they cost about $2000-$3000 a pop, excluding cage, vets, toys etc, they are overflowing rescues...and they are so much more work than you know, having never "owned" a large parrot, let alone a U2.
You may think that this stuff above doesn't apply because you will try harder etc, but I want you to REALLY think about if you could be the mother to an unpredictable toddler who is louder than a jet engine, can fly, self-mutilates when upset and can send people to the hospital for 80+ years. It is very very serious, because they NEVER grow up, and so they need a high level of toddler level attention and supervision forever. Believe me, just because you are old, doesn't mean you won't want to go out to a movie or for drinks after work, or stay over at a friends', but with a parrot like a U2, that ALL is going to depend upon their schedule.
I love your enthusiasm, but you REALLY need to pour your soul into this if you want it, and do not think of it as a pet. It is like having a mind-numbingly loud child, with serious environmental allergies, who is also on the autism spectrum...The re-homing rates are devastating and most are in their 4th home by their 3rd-5th year, which is insane, as that is before they even hit puberty and have real behavioral problems. You are talking about choosing between your mom and a parrot that needs the same commitment- this is serious for them, as they will self-mutilate, scream, bite etc if their needs are not met or if they feel stressed.
I think you are completely underestimating the sensitivity and life expectancy of a U2. 1 Summer is also not enough to just adopt a u2 without experience (even with lifetime parrot experience, that is not the same/comparable to U2 experience)-- they live for so long that they take their sweet time-- at 3 months in, if you are dealing with a young one, you will be in love. If they are 6-8+ you won't even have hit the tip of the iceberg in terms of their personality....It can take well over a year to know an adult. 1. a new setting can really upset them. 2. new people can excite or upset or cause aggression/hormones...3. A summer is not the rest of your life. This parrot (U2) should live with your forever. Imagine that. I think you need to research parrots a lot more because comparing a parrot to a summer is like comparing a serious marriage to a weekend.
I have a U2 who is "the best" my avian vet has ever met...and she took 3 months to step up (already knew how) and drew blood many times within the first 3 years off and on--- no joke...I literally have my degree in what I used for training-- and you can't keep them caged if you are scared you can't get them back in, but toweling is also not an option unless medically necessary.
Don't get your heart set on a U2 (or any long-lived parrot) unless you are 500% certain (which you cannot be at this point, nor can any settled 1st-time parrot owner--- let alone for a U2) This can't just run on hopes and dreams, but solid money and resources. They are too amazing to keep getting shuffled around, which is what happens to over 75%...it harms them when things aren't stable and when they get bounced around. You need knowledge, first-hand experience, money , and the routine/work-schedule to devote all of your free-time to a u2...I mean scheduling your life around this bird more than you would a kid in many cases.