Am I overprotective?

[Bumble1830]

So, I'm at the park with my ds10, and there's 6 of his friends from school(not best friends, all girls too, but all in same class) all here without parents, DS is moaning at me that I'm overprotective and that I can go home and leave him here... WWUD?

I think you should go home, yes. How far is it from your home to the park?

Depends on the area you live in.
Depends on how far away the park is from your home.
It depends in large part how sensible and trustworthy your son is.

Yes go home

My 10 year old goes to the park with his friends. He's responsible and comes home when I tell him to. I would think it very strange in our area for a mum to be taking a 10 year old to the park.

Yes, let him have some freedom. He will be somewhat embarrassed that his mummy still take him everywhere.
It's hard, but you have to give them a little bit of independence.

My 10 year old walks to the bus stop then gets the bus to school, goes to the park and shops.

Always has their phone to contact me. I'd go home and let them come home in half an hour or go back to collect him.

The park is only 3 minutes away, Its a nice park, all the local young kids play down here, OK, maybe I'll take a sloowww walk home and tell him to be in for 6.15. God... I'll be constantly at the window till he's home lol.

Obviously this totally depends on the area you live in.

At that age it was a bit if mixed bag re going to the park with friends. I don't think it's unreasonable to stay. Especially if he will be walk g home alone.

Given your second post, yes, hard as it is, you need to leave him.
You're not helping him in to adulthood by babying him, unfortunately.

Yes go home and let him have a bit of independence. He is 10 not 3, he will be fine.

It depends a lot on the area and perhaps the child, but in general I would say that yes, you should be at home. Certainly round here it would be considered very unusual for a parent to still be accompanying a 10 year old to the park.

In a little over a year (I assume) he will be transferring to secondary school and then it will be really uncool to be accompanying him everywhere.

He needs to learn independence in small steps now.

Phew.... He's home safe and well, and on time. Its not him I worry about, its everybody else, the horror stories you hear. First time out the way now though, thanks everyone xx

Perhaps this summer is the time to start giving him some independence. How will he be getting to secondary school.? Mine had to get the tube so we did lots of practice runs and discussions about them walking to the tube and letting themselves into the house before DH and I got home from work,