Today I told my 9 year old daughter that next year, in 4th grade she could walk part of the way to school. We live 1/4 mile from her elementary school and most mornings we walk to and from school. I won’t walk when its bitter cold or raining but try to do it most days. It’s been a lot of fun and a special time for me to get to know her a little more. And as a bonus we have gotten to know some of the folks in our neighborhood. There is the super nice guy who has grandchildren around my daughter’s age. A few days ago my daughter tried to express just how nice she thought he was..basically she thinks of him as a step grandpa just cuz he is so nice! She only has one grandpa left and he doesnt do much but watch TV and complain so this wasnt as much of a jump as one would think. I think what she was trying to say was “I wish I had a grandpa that nice and fun.” And then there is Oscer and Yogi; two fabulous dogs who live in a house on our walk. Their mom is pretty super nice too. My daughter goes right up and rings the doorbell in the afternoon if Oscer and Yogi arent out. This woman loves it. Just another super nice person we have met on our walks to and from school. But now, now my daughter is pushing for more independence. I just read a review of a speech the author, Richard Louv who wrote ‘Last Child in the Woods’. Basically he said folks can blame all the electronic games etc on kids not getting outside but the key is getting the parents outside and letting their kids outside to play. He said that its never going to go back to the way it was when we were young. You know, leaving home in the morning and not coming back until dinnertime. Kids just playing with other kids outside all day. Not going to happen he said because moms today cite safety concerns as the top reason they wont let their children outside unattended. So…I thought about that for awhile because i definately have those concerns. I personally know a number of people who were sexually assaulted as children. Of course they were all molested by close family friends or family members so I also know the odds are slim my child will be molested by a stranger walking to school. And she is tall and pretty assertive for her age so she isnt the type of kid a predator would choose to snatch. Actually my biggest fear is she will get hit by a car. Lot of folks out there not paying to their driving even while they are driving past a school. And I wont even mention how many of them are parents dropping their kids off AT school! So, i have devised a way to slowly get us into a new pattern of walking to school that will get my daughter more independent without totally stressing me out. I will walk her most of the way and then let her walk the final part by herself. Of course she will not be out of my sight. Same thing on the walk home. She will meet me at the same spot we parted in the morning. Then in 5th grade I will let her walk to and from school by herself. But that’s another year away and I dont have to think about that now. :)
