Hot Topic (5/2): Would you let your 9-year old ride the NYC subway alone?
About a year ago, a New York mom allowed her 9-year old son to ride the subway home alone. She wrote a column about it and received a lot of criticism for her decision. (She was called "America's Worst Mom.")
Now she's written a book (Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry) about the idea that parents need to loosen up and let their children have the same freedom they had as children.
Do you agree or disagree? Why?
I don't know. I guess it depends on how responsible they are. I remember riding the public bus to school when i was 8.
I don't see anything wrong with this.
Call me what you want but there is no way in hell I would let my 13 yr old daughter ride the subway little own a nine yr old. There are to many criminal running around now a days and I am not giving any of them an oppurtunity to get my baby.My daughter is very mature and very responsible but that has no bearing against a pervert or worse.These freaks are always watching for a vulnerable kid with a pefect chance to snatch one for there dirty deeds.
NO WAY IN HELL!! AND TO THE LADY HERE THAT MENTIONED HER RIDING THE SCHOOL BUS AT ONLY 8 YEARS OLD! OPEN YOUR EYES, LADY!!! YOU CAN NOT COMPARE LIFE TODAY WITH THE WAY IT WAS WHEN WE WERE KIDS!!! IT IS THIS MENTALITY THAT CAUSES THESE POOR KIDS TO BE ABDUCTED AND POSSIBLY MURDERED!!!! GEEZ!!!!!!!!!!
Why? because pedophiles and rapist did not exist back then? Do you really believe that these crimes are new?
I let my 12 yr old and 8 yr old walk home from school. It is about 2 miles from the house. They love it!
Quoting Cleocomedy:NO WAY IN HELL!! AND TO THE LADY HERE THAT MENTIONED HER RIDING THE SCHOOL BUS AT ONLY 8 YEARS OLD! OPEN YOUR EYES, LADY!!! YOU CAN NOT COMPARE LIFE TODAY WITH THE WAY IT WAS WHEN WE WERE KIDS!!! IT IS THIS MENTALITY THAT CAUSES THESE POOR KIDS TO BE ABDUCTED AND POSSIBLY MURDERED!!!! GEEZ!!!!!!!!!!
Quoting Malapertinent:
I can't answer objectively. I live in a town of 200 people with no public transportation. I let my kid wander all over the town. Just need to call the grocery store to check in on her and someone there will be able to give a full report.
LOL that's awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but where I live (just outside of San Francisco) NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Heck , my oldest DS is out celebrating his 21st tonight and i'm freaking out!!!!!!!!!! lol
(he's with his BgSis & good, caring friends AND he's a SMART young man but you NEVER stop being a MOM!! KWIM LOL)
Quoting Malapertinent:
Frisco is fantastic! I love San Raphael. I don't blame you on all sides, ESPECIALLY the 21 y/o...not looking forward to that. I'm trying to survive a 17 1/2 y/o who thinks he knows everything!
OH!!!!!!!!!! I have one of those too.........................such fun
lol
&a 15 1/2 yo "Diva" lol,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
actally thry're all great kids but MAN!!!!!!!!!!! do they make me appreciate my LO's "terrible twos" LMAO!!!!!!!!!
I saw the mom and son on the Dr Phil show..and yes after seeing them I can honestly say I would have let him if he were my child.
Would I let my children, no...but we don't live in NYC and they have no experience with the subway station. That would just be ridiculous for me to drop them off in a subway.
I do feel as parents we keep a much too short leash on our children. I am doing my best to not do that. In order for me to prepare them for te world they must have freedoms in it.
Eight Year Old Girl Given "Catastrophe Award" By Teacher
- Cafe GroupAdmin
on May. 2, 2009 at 12:08 AM