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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just let my daughter out to play unsupervised for first time....

40 replies

shudabinme · 02/07/2011 11:49

Need some moral support, it's carnival day in the village, just let my newly 10 year old out with two of her friends on her own for the first time - loads of police about, kids, teachers, parents.... got to learn to let go! aaaaargh......

OP posts:
cory · 02/07/2011 11:51

have some Wine- it gets easier after the first time

xmyboys · 02/07/2011 11:51

I'm sure she'll have a great time. I hope you have put your feet up and having a cup of tea!

usualsuspect · 02/07/2011 11:52

She will have a great time

Original poster
shudabinme · 02/07/2011 11:55

Hanging out the window clutching my mobile... thanks for the Brew, daren't do the Wine in case of emergency run to hospital/police station/whatever!!! (hyperventilating)

OP posts:
jugglingmug · 02/07/2011 12:02

shudabinme - I cant believe you've doe this to me today. I'm now panicking about the DC going out on their own i the future. They are 5.4 and 2 Blush

Seriously though, she'll be fine, and so will you.

jade80 · 02/07/2011 12:03

She's ten? You've more determination than me if you've supervised playtime every day for ten years!

Original poster
shudabinme · 02/07/2011 12:06

Main road runs through the village, big lorries and we're not too far from Soham...echoes of dread permeated her childhood. Road's closed today

OP posts:
takeonboard · 02/07/2011 12:17

I envy you, we are in central london so will never have the safety of closed roads etc but I can imagine exactly how you are feeling............and how releived you will be when she arrives home safely Smile
Do try not to worry and enjoy your taste of freedom as much as she will be!

jade80 · 02/07/2011 12:19

Fair play to you for keeping her amused for ten years then. I'd have been driven up the wall by my kids by now if they had been/still were supervised t that age! I like being outdoors but wouldn't be up for watching them for hours outside every day. I don't think my parents could have done supervised play for me until that age either- I was out all day at the weekends by age 8/9 either alone or with a friend or two. I think if I had to constantly supervise, my kids wouldn't get more than an hour out during the week and a couple at weekends, sad though that may be.

lovemyskinnyjeans · 02/07/2011 12:42

Good for you, it will do her the world of good!

Original poster
shudabinme · 02/07/2011 12:42

Phew, she's back - bloodied knee from falling off her scooter but otherwise unscathed! Her dad's home now too so Wine !!

OP posts:
Original poster
shudabinme · 02/07/2011 12:42

Lots and lots of Wine...

OP posts:
TrinIsASadSpottyFatRhino · 02/07/2011 12:46

I muwt be an awrful ,mother then

dd1 started riding her bike up to tesco when she was 10

single lane, country roads for about 2 miles, tesco is literally right there at the end of the country road

worraliberty · 02/07/2011 12:48

Parents have never had it so easy considering we now have mobile phones.

Years ago, you just had to sit and wait for them to get home.

TrinIsASadSpottyFatRhino · 02/07/2011 12:52

I remember going out with my fri4ends down a single track lane for about 2 miles into a forest ith a stream at the bottom and spending all day there making rope swing over the stream

we had one watch between us and had to be in for tea

follyfoot · 02/07/2011 12:53

10? Blimey we all have very different ideas of parenting dont we?

I get the traffic thing but surely we teach them not to go anywhere near the road?

Ian Huntley is in prison, there are no more stranger murders of children now than in the 70s. Its sad that children are so supervised these days 'just in case' Sad

Knackeredmother · 02/07/2011 12:56

10? My 4 year old is out playing with her friends. Admittedly in the field at the back of our house and I can hear them.
Not sure I can last till 10!

yearningforthesun · 02/07/2011 13:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
shudabinme · 02/07/2011 13:16

I've been taking the lead also from the other Mums in her class, funnily enough all the boys are allowed out and have been for at least a year; the girls are only just slowly being allowed out - and that's only cos I think we've just realised they're going to be catching the bus to secondary school next year!
She doesn't have a mobile phone yet, doesn't seem bothered either so no pester power.

When I was her age I was a latch key kid....

OP posts:
jade80 · 02/07/2011 13:18

So you are all being sexist, then?

NearlySpring · 02/07/2011 13:23

I think aged 10 sounds about right- if you know where she is going and it's just local and for a shirt period of time.

My dd is 7 and very sensible. She will hopefuly be ready to go out like this at age 10. Currently she isn't allowed anywhere alone without an adult, except inthe garden of course. We live in SE London, busy roads etc so "playing out" doesn't really exist like it would if we lived in a quiet rural village.

UnauthorisedJam · 02/07/2011 13:29

I've recently started letting my 6 year old out unsupervised. But only on the street or to the little park around the corner. We gave him a watch and he has to pop home often. 10 seems a little old to me but I guess we all make different calls with this sort of thing. I know lots of people would consider 6 too young.

NearlySpring · 02/07/2011 13:48

6? Yeah definitely too young! 6 is still just a baby. They walk round the corner to the park! I'm shocked. The thought of my 7 year old popping out to the park makes me feel ill.

4madboys · 02/07/2011 13:53

well i let my 8 and 6yr old play out in the cul de sac and the 8 yr old also pops to the shop on his own.

my 11 yr old has been going off to town on his own to the cinema or to meet up with friends for over a year.

superjobeespecs · 02/07/2011 14:03

DDs 6 and is outside with the 3/4 yr old girl from next door luckily the wean isnt allowed out front as tho we're in a quiet cul de sac just 1 wee lane leads to a quiet bus/lorry road so have to remind DD constantly!!

when i was wee a load of us all different ages used to disappear across a busy road into a whole different area and make dens/ play in the woods/ abandoned car lot in the big creepy house all whilst nicking donuts from the bakery Grin if my DD done any of that i'd faint!!

im a complete paranoid wreck i hate her going out i cant get over how much freedom i had as a kid but my mum always replies ''it was a different time back then'' it was the 90s!!

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