Is it just me? All of Dd's friends' families are so relaxed about where thier dc are

[Penelope]

I am surprised at all of the moms that say they were allowed to do all of these things at 11. Wander the malls? I wasn't allowed to do these things until much older. Would never have gone to the movies alone with friends or to the mall with no adults until more like 15. Riding bikes on our own, that was much earlier. I think that's different. Middle school aged kids wandering around in packs unsupervised = recipe for trouble. Even kids that are "good" kids.

 

I don't think having Mom drive you around places for entertainment is "freedom". There are other ways to stretch your wings and learn responsibility.

[Guest CarolineUK]

I think it might be an age thing! I'm 46 and grew up in an English village in the 1960s - apparently I was wandering around our neighbourhood fairly freely aged 3, and my parents were far from neglectful. Things have changed enormously everywhere since then, in some places more than others.

 

I do allow my DS11 quite a lot of freedom, a little less to DS9, simply because he's a rather wilder character. I also remember reading when the boys were younger that the mothers of girls are more risk averse than the mothers of boys, which did fit with my experience of friends with daughters compared to me at the time.

 

So definitely depends on individuals, their environment and situation I should say.

[Amy loves Bud]

"there's actually an adult that's going to call me on this???"

 

Wouldn't this suggest that if they did have an adult with them that they would still be behaving poorly?

[Splash]

I wouldn't just drop off my kids and leave. So I don't think it is just you.

[woolybear]

Wouldn't this suggest that if they did have an adult with them that they would still be behaving poorly?

 

Sadly, yes. It goes back to many being uninvolved with their kids, whether they are present or not.