Pacing pacing pacing...

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mustangclaire

mustangclaire

There's petrol runnin' through my veins.
Jun 15, 2010
2,956
12,726
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East Sussex, UK
So... home from work and school. For the first time in my boys 10 years, he has gone to play football, with some friends from across the road, on his own, up in the village. First time I've ever let him anywhere on his own. They knocked for him (a mate in his class, who lives opposite, with his 2 older brothers), and asked. I kinda hoped he'd say no. But his face lit up, quick change, lots of whispered words from me (be careful, look when crossing road, be careful, be careful, BE CAREFUL). So I'm now destined to spend the next hour pacing the living room.

No mobile. Am I bad, is that too young? Or am I sad, got to cut those strings sometime?!!!:hmm::nrvs:
 
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mustangclaire

mustangclaire

There's petrol runnin' through my veins.
Jun 15, 2010
2,956
12,726
52
East Sussex, UK
You are all right. He's a sensible boy. And it's the first time since December it's not been raining. He'll have a great time. I, on the other hand, have my face pressed to the living room window and am nervously eating Jacobs Crackers dry. :abnormal: (I'm using that smiley on the basis alone that I like it and it's new)
 
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ghost19

ghost19

"Have I run too far to get home?"
Sep 25, 2011
8,926
56,578
51
Arkansas
mustangclaire said:
So... home from work and school. For the first time in my boys 10 years, he has gone to play football, with some friends from across the road, on his own, up in the village. First time I've ever let him anywhere on his own. They knocked for him (a mate in his class, who lives opposite, with his 2 older brothers), and asked. I kinda hoped he'd say no. But his face lit up, quick change, lots of whispered words from me (be careful, look when crossing road, be careful, be careful, BE CAREFUL). So I'm now destined to spend the next hour pacing the living room.

No mobile. Am I bad, is that too young? Or am I sad, got to cut those strings sometime?!!!:hmm::nrvs:
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Geez, I'm in the same boat. My son is going to turn 10 soon and his best friend lives at the bottom of our hill. He keeps wanting to take off and walk down to his friend's house. Apparently kids don't ride bikes anymore....they all walk around my neighborhood....I can't arm him with a handgun legally yet so all I can do is make sure he has his cell phone. I'm trying really, really, really hard not to hover or just drive him there because I know they want to walk together without parental interference. But he simply doesn't know who/what is cruising around out there looking for targets of opportunity. He still sees the world as a good place, inhabited by mainly good people. How do you let him keep his innocence without making him into what I have been all my life? Fine line....I bet I've told him to be careful about a million times in the last couple of months....
 
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Out of Order

Out of Order

Sign of the Times
Feb 9, 2011
29,007
162,154
New Hampster
It's a tough one for sure, ghost. But, speaking from experience it doesn't get any easier. If you live in a safe neighborhood establish the rule that he stay in that neighborhood ASAP. Getting a taste of freedom at that age is usually enough for them. At least in my experience with my two kids.

Wait until he turns 13, then everything is off the table.
 
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mustangclaire

mustangclaire

There's petrol runnin' through my veins.
Jun 15, 2010
2,956
12,726
52
East Sussex, UK
ghost19 said:
Geez, I'm in the same boat. My son is going to turn 10 soon and his best friend lives at the bottom of our hill. He keeps wanting to take off and walk down to his friend's house. Apparently kids don't ride bikes anymore....they all walk around my neighborhood....I can't arm him with a handgun legally yet so all I can do is make sure he has his cell phone. I'm trying really, really, really hard not to hover or just drive him there because I know they want to walk together without parental interference. But he simply doesn't know who/what is cruising around out there looking for targets of opportunity. He still sees the world as a good place, inhabited by mainly good people. How do you let him keep his innocence without making him into what I have been all my life? Fine line....I bet I've told him to be careful about a million times in the last couple of months....
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Ha, it's a killer isn't it. My boy doesn't have a mobile yet, I figured i'd get him one when he goes to senior school. Perhaps I'll get him one sooner now. Anyhoo, it's getting dark here, he's still not back yet. I know he'll be fine but you can never stop worrying eh....I remember when I used to go to my Dads for the weekend. Me and my twin sister used to go out to play with our friends there, and just come home when we were hungry. That's what kids did then. Out for hours and hours. Now we see them attached to play stations and x-boxes, cocooned indoors.
 
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DiO'Bolic

DiO'Bolic

Not completely obtuse
Nov 14, 2013
22,864
129,998
Poconos, PA
not_nadine said:
We used to just have to come home when the streetlights came on..:tounge:
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Yeah times sure have changed. When I was 12, I snuck away to go to the Woodstock Music Festival in NY with a friend and his older brother... 150 miles and a whole other state. Figured I could get home before dark. But boy did I get a beating when I was returned home.
 
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fushingfeef

fushingfeef

Finally Uber!
Aug 14, 2009
10,194
21,965
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
We have a neighbor 3 doors down with a little girl, and sometimes I let my girls walk down the hill (via the back access road which is safer) to play with her. I am trying to get better with the idea of them doing stuff on their own but it does make me nervous! But I am lucky to live in a neighborhood where there are lots of young kids out and about, on foot and on bikes. It's a sign of a vibrant community!
 
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