Free Range Kids
Posted by StuntMom on Monday, May 12, 2008We all have our own fears for how and where our kids are going to get hurt. I personally have an irrational fear of my kids being in a car wreck while someone other than myself is driving. It took me a long time relax while my mother in law or husband drives my three little darlings around. But I'm finding the longer I'm a mom, the earlier it is becoming. I still have a slightly uneasy feel in my gut while they are in a car with another driver, but it is no longer as debilitating to me as it used to be. They are allowed to places with other people.
It is the law of our school that kindergartners must be with their parent or caregiver at the bus stop for pick up and drop off. After that, they can wait out by themselves. For some reason I have always had a bit of an issue with it. At first it seemed like such a big step letting her ride the bus since I lived in fear of her not figuring out where her class was when she got to school, but oddly enough, she figured it out. Then as the school year progressed, I started thinking it was crazy that I had to wait outside with her at all. She is a wise girl, or at least as wise as a kindergartner needs to be, so I thought, next year, she is waiting alone. She will know to walk back home if her bus doesn't come. She will know not to get into the car for a ride if offered by a stranger. Next year she will not have a bus option, she will have to walk since the school district is moving the school a few blocks away from our house.
Standing out at the bus stop one morning I asked the other parents if they were going to let their kids walk to school. (I didn't mention that I was thinking my first grader was going make the short journey alone since their kids are in 5th and 6th grade) But they said no way, it's just not safe, any creep could have their way with their child as they walked to school. So I soon felt like the bad mom not wanting to walk to school in the morning, but really, I just don't think there is much that could go wrong and if there is I certainly don't think my child is going to be the victim of an unusual crime on her walk to school.
I will walk her the first month or so to ensure she knows the route, but after that, she need to do it alone. There will be crossing guards to make sure she isn't plowed down by people in haste to make it to work. So really what could happen? Someone might steal her lunch, but chances are they will only do it once when they realize it's not a fun lunch that I see some of the others take to school. No lunchables or other pre-package stuff. Check out this article if you think I'm being a little carefree. Suddenly a short little walk in the city of Cincinnati doesn't seem so bad. This mom is my hero we can't keep our kids on such short leashes if we want them to grow.
It is the law of our school that kindergartners must be with their parent or caregiver at the bus stop for pick up and drop off. After that, they can wait out by themselves. For some reason I have always had a bit of an issue with it. At first it seemed like such a big step letting her ride the bus since I lived in fear of her not figuring out where her class was when she got to school, but oddly enough, she figured it out. Then as the school year progressed, I started thinking it was crazy that I had to wait outside with her at all. She is a wise girl, or at least as wise as a kindergartner needs to be, so I thought, next year, she is waiting alone. She will know to walk back home if her bus doesn't come. She will know not to get into the car for a ride if offered by a stranger. Next year she will not have a bus option, she will have to walk since the school district is moving the school a few blocks away from our house.
Standing out at the bus stop one morning I asked the other parents if they were going to let their kids walk to school. (I didn't mention that I was thinking my first grader was going make the short journey alone since their kids are in 5th and 6th grade) But they said no way, it's just not safe, any creep could have their way with their child as they walked to school. So I soon felt like the bad mom not wanting to walk to school in the morning, but really, I just don't think there is much that could go wrong and if there is I certainly don't think my child is going to be the victim of an unusual crime on her walk to school.
I will walk her the first month or so to ensure she knows the route, but after that, she need to do it alone. There will be crossing guards to make sure she isn't plowed down by people in haste to make it to work. So really what could happen? Someone might steal her lunch, but chances are they will only do it once when they realize it's not a fun lunch that I see some of the others take to school. No lunchables or other pre-package stuff. Check out this article if you think I'm being a little carefree. Suddenly a short little walk in the city of Cincinnati doesn't seem so bad. This mom is my hero we can't keep our kids on such short leashes if we want them to grow.










