AIBU to not let DD walk home in the dark?

[BeginningToFumeALotAtMIL]

DD8 is at her friend's house about 8 minutes walk away. Along a main road, but doesn't need to cross it. I don't want her walking home alone now it's dark. DH says I'm being PSB.

Definitely way too young to walk home alone in the dark.

No way. I'd pick up my 17yo if she wanted a lift in the dark...

My dd is 16 and I wouldn’t allow it. A young girl got off the bus here (France) to walk the short distance home and was abducted and murdered. Too many awful stories..

I have the same situation with my 11 year old, I just walked down to meet her and we walked back together. My DH also thought I was being precious, she probably would have been fine but probably isn’t good enough for me.

No. Anything could happen. She's far too young (my kids are adults now and I was fairly easy going, but they would not have walked anywhere on their own in the dark at that age)

No way at 8! DS (11) doesn't get why he can walk to school at 9am and 3pm but can't walk to football training at 6pm and 7:30 in the same place!

Is it 5.30 pm when the way is still busy although it is dark? That is a very different prospect to 10.30 pm.

I walked ahead of my Mum from Brownies with a friend at the age and it was dark and a man pulled up in a car and asked us for directions, our Mum's noticed and called out for us, the car quickly drove off and didn't wait for directions, this was in the late 80's but a fairly good part of London.

@flaviaritt

At 8? Over a mile in the dark? No.

An 8 minute walk isn't over a Mile

It's darkish but still busy and pretty safe at 4.30pm so it depends very much on the time

No, my daughter is 10 & wouldn’t be doing that walk on her own in daylight, never mind the dark!

Gosh 8 is really young.

An 8 minute walk isn't over a Mile confused

You missed my correction, then.

My dd is 14 and I wouldn’t let her walk anywhere alone in the dark! To be fair even in day light at 8 I wouldn’t feel comfortable! If it’s that close why would you not just walk round and meet her so she could walk a couple of minutes to feel like she’s being independent but so that you can see her coming towards you? It’s so difficult you want them to have freedom but be safe and I’m sorry 8 is far too young!

I'm 31 and my mum still gets anxious when I walk the four minutes home in the dark (no, I'm not joking!)

At 8 they wouldn’t be walking home alone at all.

8 is too young to be walking anywhere alone.

@sapnupuas I live a similar distance away from my mum as you do, and sometimes my mum will walk me half way home if its really dark 😂 (mainly if we've been talking about something woo)

Anyway, at 8 I wouldn't let dd walk home in the dark.

I'm wondering if OP means year 8? But still a no from me.

I’m all for a little independence but I feel 8 is still too young, especially in the dark. My DD9 would probably find it too spooky, even on a well-lit street. She has only recently started walking home from school herself (less than 5 minutes) but I wouldn’t let her walk anywhere herself in the dark, even if she wanted to.

I wouldn’t even let my 8 year old walk that during the day, let alone at night.

Crikey I sometimes meet my 17 year old daughter at the bus stop after 9pm to walk up the road with her, I’d definitely walk with an 8 year old

I wouldn't actually, and I'm not OTT about these things. I don't know your area obviously. Mine is a nice area and well lit but my DD wouldn't like it and nor would I. She's 10 this year.

Picking up 14 and 15yr olds just because its dark?
Really?
It's dark at 5.30pm for months, but well lit busy roads are fine.

No eight is too young. It’s not just about whether the road is well lit, busy etc. its also about her confidence and ability to react to situations. E.g someone stopping her for a reason, coming across older kids etc. She’s still a child, why put her in an unnecessary risky situation?