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.

8 is too young imo. And to be honest if I was the friend's parents I would not let a child that age leave my house in the dark on their own.

I'm 40. If I was staying with my parents, my dad would still walk and meet me 😂

There’s no way I’d let my 8 year old DD walk on her own, even in the daylight. It’s just not worth the risk. She’s still a little girl.

DD's friend walks it alone because we live next door to the school so she's used to it. Usually DD goes there with friend and grandmother after school, then friend walks her home and then goes home alone. I don't feel comfortable with this, but that's her mum's choice. However, it's never been at night until now.
We're talking between 6-630pm and DD doesn't have a phone.

When I got there, the grandmother seemed surprised so I said "oh, we're I grew up you wouldn't walk alone in the dark until you were a teenager!"
She said the kids were outside playing. I said I hadn't seen them as I walked up. So we went to look. They were at the (unlit) playground at the edge of the village (badly lit road, past a field) There were a couple of teenagers there too, who left just after we started walking down the road - I wonder if they were waiting til the girls left!

I wouldn’t let my DD go back there if she’s not properly supervised while she’s there!

No way.

Yes, I'm more than a little shocked that she didn't know where they were. And just let them go out in the dark.

Why is she mixing outside of your household? Don’t you know there’s a global pandemic?

My DD (9) won’t be allowed to walk in the dark until at least age 40! But seriously- nope , YANBU definitely.

No way!! Absolutely no way on earth would I allow dd8 to walk in the dark along a main road.

At 8!? Of course not! I’m surprised you’ve even felt the need to start a thread to ask

I second the pp that said they wouldn't let an 8 year old walk along a main road in daylight, I second that. It would take seconds for someone to snatch her, she would have no way to defend herself at that age.

My dds started going out in pairs around 10yrs old, so they were ready for senior school.

@sapnupuas

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

Same! Do you have to give "three rings" like I do at 39!!!

Why is she mixing outside of your household? Don’t you know there’s a global pandemic?

🙄 because she is just out of quarantine and has missed her best friend and suffered under the lack of social contact. Because they are glued to each other at school, so a couple of hours after school isn't going to change a lot and will make the world of difference to their happiness. Because it's not against the rules where we live.

My ten year old goes to and from school alone since September but she was at a friends tonight til 7, 5 minutes away and DH went and met her as it is so dark. Summer - maybe?

YANBU..

An abduction would take seconds

Please tell me this is the last time you are allowing her there. Those people sound neglectful. An 8yo should not be playing in an unlit playground in the dark!

BeginningToFumeALotAtMIL - where do you live? Surely no mixing is safest. Covid doesn’t care about feelings.

Please tell me this is the last time you are allowing her there. Those people sound neglectful. An 8yo should not be playing in an unlit playground in the dark!

My view entirely. I certainly won't be letting her go back until I've spoken to DD's friend's mum.

I wouldn’t let my DD walk 8 mins on her own in day light ...

@Jumpjumpjumper

I'm 40. If I was staying with my parents, my dad would still walk and meet me 😂

Same! My dad used to pick me up from the station every time I came home from uni. It was only a 10 min walk but he didn’t like me walking in the dark. We did live in a dodgy area though.

DS is 9, nearly 10. We're dabbling with him walking the 300m from school once a week. I've said I might pause it when it gets too dark. I waited for his class the other day because it was foggy and that can be disorentating.

It's not just fear of bad things happening, it's also that not many junior age children go out without adult supervision which can attract attention. Even well meaning attention from an adult checking the child could alarm them.