My son has just started secondary school. During the summer I would let him go to meet friends during the day to either ride their bikes or go into town (we live in a small market town) and sometimes early evening. This was not a daily thing, more once or twice a week. Some of his friends were out all the time and are allowed to go to an area with skating ramps etc, however I don’t allow my son there as I have heard bad things about older teenagers taking drugs there etc.
Now that he has started his new school and already getting quite a bit of homework, I either pick him up or he walks home. A lot of his friends immediately go from school to hanging around. Tonight on my way home from the supermarket I spotted a group of them with scooters. It was just before 7pm. Some of his best friends were there. I’m torn between not wanting him hanging around, but also not wanting missing out on social situations when he’s just started a new school. I’m probably overthinking it all as my son hasn’t mentioned going out in the evenings.
I just really wanted to know whether I am in the minority? I am friendly with a couple of these kid’s mums and they are of the “oh well if they don’t do their homework they’ll get detention” thinking. Whereas I ask him what homework he has and guide him through if he is struggling.