WIBU to let my five year old walk 20 houses down while I watched her?!

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

I'm stuck at home today as my youngest DD is poorly... She's alternating between screaming about her ears and falling asleep with a high temperature and had just fallen asleep on the sofa when our friend about 20 houses down text and invited older DD for a play date.

I explained I couldn't leave, she said the same re her youngest, so I stood out on the end of my drive and watched her walk 20 houses down to where my friend was waiting. No problem...

Until DH called to check in and I mentioned DD1 was at a play date, and he asked if I'd managed to take DD2 out... I said no and that she'd walked herself, with me watching! And he went crazy.

WIBU?? Is such a short distance really that risky??

OP Sounds all right to me.

Some poeple never cease to amaze me!! I can't believe how many of you are saying ..oh, that's fine...no it bloody well isn't fine at all. Op mentions 20 houses , which is 20 driveways, with likelihood of cars reversing out of those 20 drives, doctors survey, shops. You're all mad. She is 5 years old for gods sake. Op surprised you didn't get your sick dd2 to get in a taxi to go to the Drs.

My 5yo does 7 doors down (london terrace) then the mum comes and waves at me from their hate when she has arrived.

GATE

So OP, not only have you failed your older child by letting her walk 100m on her own you have also ailed your sick child as you should have taken her to the doctors. You clearly are not permitted any kind of judgement in these matters. You are the mum therefore you are always wrong.

I couldn't have let either of my kids walk past that many driveways at 5 as they could not manage the 'stop at the driveway' instruction. But plenty of their friends could. I was very jealous of those parents. My younger child couldn't be trusted to stop until he was about eight, which was a source of much grief. Then he realised he'd get no freedom unless he sharpened his act up and he did.

Hetronorm if you live in a very rural area with a school starting age of 6-7 it is still unbearably embarrasing (for the child) to walk a child to school after the first week ;)