...to think an 11 year old should be back in his own garden when dark falls?

[NeumsyPeddie]

Tell me honestly, am I being overprotective? My eldest is 11 and I have the rule that he has to be back in our garden at dark, but this means that this time of year he has to be home dead early so he says that's unfair. We live in a really safe area (northeast suburban village) and he's rarely ever alone. He's a good kid and rarely has homework because he does it all at achool so he can go out after school. His friends are all really lovely boys with great parents too, so it's not them I'm worried about. It's everyone else!

But he's always asking:

"If I can stay out til 7:45 on weekends in the summer why do I have to be home at half six on weekends in the winter?"

My answer is that thing I always swore I'd never say: "Things can go wrong alot easier in the dark than in daylight."

My Mom used to say that to me and I hated it, but now I think it's true. Is 11 old enough to be out after dark if he has a phone? I don't worry at all about him in the daylight, and I totally trust him. Its just that Cave Mom Instinct that thinks he should be back in the cave after dark or he'll get eaten by a sabretooth tiger. Whats the verdict??

If that had been the rule then I would not have been allowed to come home from school by myself in November or December when I started secondary school.

Yeah, we got a little sidetracked. :D (I do allow him to go to and from places. Just not roam and wander aimlessly in the streets after dark.)

NP your profile is private and no-one can view it.

Anyhoo I do hope you've had a more peaceful day today as well.

:D Fixed.

I think you are being very reasonable with him and i would explain the obvious reason up to a few more times and then tell him that's your decision!

If he wants to spend time outside the house, why not after school activities etc .

All he is doing is wanting more independence but he can have at if he is doing something constructive. If you give in now, no doubt you will be trying to track him down next year at 10 or 11 at night.

Stick to your gut instincts with this.T.b.h there are very few 11 year olds out roaming anyway so you'd be in the majority :)

That is a much nicer photo of you . I dread to think what state I'd be in if I were to be doorstepped at any time up until about four in the afternoon first thing in the morning.

Lovely photo but without the lottery link I have nothing to compare it with.

Considering the first thing I do when I get home is take off bra and put on tracksuit bottom and oversized swaetshirt I'd not want to ever ever be doorstopped - even by a friend.

I wouldn't want my 11yo out after dark tbh, and I agree, it's the wandering aimlessly factor that would bother me most, rather than walking to/from somewhere.

Love the vid btw ...I couldn't bring myself to be cruel enough to link to it ...or could I? hmmm ...

Good to hear that you've come to an agreement with your son.

You do realise that we all now know where you live and will be popping in for and the next time we're in NE12 don't you

Did you have a lavish wedding with the win?

Well, if you don't mind me bra free and in pj bottoms, and you bring chocolate and wine and a nanny, you're fine to stop by anytime. :)

Geordieminx, no, not really. I'm not the lavish wedding type. About all we did was up the buffet a notch, get a better DJ and go to York on our honeymoon. :D The rest paid for work that needed to be done on the house!