To let Dd walk at 6.00am?

[Tartanwarrior]

My daughter is 17, and works as a dot.com shopper on Saturday and Sunday mornings. She's been doing this job since Nov, and I have driven her every time so far. It's light now at 6, it's about a 10- 15 minute walk, and can be done on a well lit road beside a fairly busy road. I so want a lie in, but I feel guilty/ worried etc. I'm a single parent, and she isn't close to driving yet. Am I unreasonable to make her walk?

She is 17 !!! My son was 16 in August and so far flown to 8 countries on his own along with travelling to London and up north every weekend, making is own arrangements ...you are being ridiculous

At around her age my leg was in plaster, I was on crutches nearly six months, I still had to get the bus or train to college, to see friends, whatever. At whatever time of day or night.

I was 15ish when I was going out alone over long distances. I was 9 when I was hanging out locally on my bike, with nothing but my watch and front door key to get me home.

So deffo yabu

I mean, you've bu, now let her walk

If it puts your mind at rest a bit, why don’t you download the alert 5 app? It’s an app that you set up to send an emergency text to up to 5 peoples phone that then also tracks your location for the next 15 minutes.

I was walking less than desirable areas at that age at all hours.

Why do people keep going on about what they were doing at 17. It's not relevant as it's nothing to do with age. Either it's safe to walk around at 6 a.m. or it isn't and that depends on the area.

I refuse my 18 year old very few lifts, the amount of info you can glean in a journey where you are not face to face is amazing.

And as for when you fill the car with 18 year old mates...........who forget you are there, well all I can say is that knowledge is power.

YES ADHMee and bert So when would you ALLOW your daughters to walk in the street apples? (or sons for that matter) ; more boys than girls get mugged.

How are they to cope with undesirables if they're never allowed out? I was going to ballet class on the tube when I was 9 , it made me grow up fast. Will they be 75 when they get a bit of freedom?

pp I assume you were 9, not all that recently, when cars were fewer, probably a bit slower and knife crime was not at an all time high. What you or I did as a lass is really neither here nor there.

I don't think anything has changed really; ds was mugged age 11 on his way back from school in the 90s twice, in a leafy middle class area, we still didn't meet him from school, he learnt not to take his phone with him and to stand up for himself.

If anything it's the media that has changed. There have always been unpleasant people and there will always be. We're all alive.

he learnt not to take his phone with him and to stand up for himself.

Oh, I see. I thought you were a sensible little person who was just concerned about the environment. Now I see you. Bye.

Don’t know where “little” came from. I have no idea what size you are and nor do I care.

Of course unless there's a specific reason you think it wouldn't be safe?
From about 15 I was walking to the train station and getting the train to and from school/ my weekend and after school job which was about half an hour away!

17 year olds in Scotland are off to uni, of course it's fine.

Again, why do people keep going on about the age they did this all that at? If OP is worried about her DD getting mugged for example what difference does it make?

I was living on my own at 17.
It's a 10-15 min walk of course it's ok!

dungeon maybe to tell of first hand experience of what 17 year olds are capable of.

When I was 17 I sometimes went away travelling (in UK) alone for several days at a time. My parents didn't know where I was staying (youth hostels in those days mostly) though I might have told them the area I was visiting.

dungeon maybe to tell of first hand experience of what 17 year olds are capable of

In what way are their "capabilities" relevant to whether it's safe to walk somewhere early in the morning though? whether or not you are attacked or mugged has nothing to do with how capable you are.

@ dungeon
Yes! That!

@ppeatfruit I don't have a DD but my 17 year old DS has been travelling independently to school, college, sport and social events for years and is now working. My comment and concern were because the OP has a daughter and I am aware from what my son has told me of what it's like for teenage girls in respect of harassment. He walks his female friends home after they've been out in the evening and even though the girl is accompanied men are still making inappropriate sexual comments to her and she has literally been grabbed in a bar.

Before DS told me this (and also reading the thread where posters were talking of what had happened to their daughters), I would also have been knew saying she should walk, and DH and I have often commented to each other that we thought friends were overprotective to their daughters. Now we have more of an understanding why this is.

The OP has stated that her DD will have to walk past an area where people are on their way out if night clubs and personally if it was my DD I wouldn't want her to have to walk where she felt uncomfortable or was at risk. Hence why I'd book a taxi.

Personally where I live currently I would drive my daughter as we had a few sexual assaults and rapes/ attempted rapes. Lots of mugging too.
Generally I do agree kids need to learn to be independent tho.

Small cross-body bag worn under coat if possible, take minimum cash, leave cards at home, get cheapo non-desirable phone (around £10 in supermarket), and definitely do not walk around holding uber smart phone around like a tray of cocktails in front of you! Shoes you can walk fast or run in.
Bike it? Self defence class?
and at least teach her how to cross the road

I despair of the people who keep going on about what they did at 17 because it has no relevance at all. It doesn't matter what age you are or what your capabilities are.

Those who think the solution is to not carry anything expensive are also shortsighted. Yes, this may prevent anything valuable being stolen but it won't prevent the attack in the first place. Self-defence classes may help but there is no guarantee especially if the person attacking is much stronger or has a weapon. The only solution is to avoid walking in certain areas when there aren't other people around.

Bluetrews is right. I have often walked in Soho (not a 6am though) or wherever and am looked at by ,possible, muggers etc. I walk properly at a good pace in flat shoes and do not carry my phone in view and have never been mugged.

I think if, possible, muggers can see that you could ,if nec. stand up for yourself, or just run to get out trouble in other words you are street wise. You are less likely to get problems

.If you are ferried about in mummy or daddy's car or a taxi, oh and btw you are not COMPLETELY safe even in a car or taxi. you never learn to be street wise.

If you are ferried about in mummy or daddy's car or a taxi, oh and btw you are not COMPLETELY safe even in a car or taxi. you never learn to be street wise.

I think that is rubbish. You haven't been mugged because you have never been in the wrong place at the wrong time and thinking it is because you were sensible shoes and don't have an expensive phone on view is a sign that you aren't streetwise yourself.

I live in a city with some really dangerous areas and I have taught my children not to walk around in them, particularly when there aren't other people around. They have gain independence by walking around in safer areas, travelling to other cities etc.