long time lurker but my first post
Just let my son start walking home from primary school. He is in year six and there is a group of them that walk home the same way. About 20 minutes. He is allowed to stop at the park for half an hour that is on the way home. After speaking to the other parents that is what they let there kids do as well. Except a couple that can basically stay at the park until six. For us that is far too long and we want him home by half four.
Tonight my son rings me and tells me on that all the others have decided to walk to a different park that is 45 minutes away. I tell him and to walk home as usual and I will come and meet him halfway.
we get home and I have a chat with DS telling him it’s for his safety and he understands. So we leave it that in future if the others go to the other park they he is to ring me and I will start walking to meet him.
about an hour ago on the parents WhatsApp there is a message from one of the parents asking why I did not let DS go to the other park. I explain that I am not happy with him walking to a part 45 minute away in a place where he is not familiar. To cut a long story short it turns out none of the other parents even the ones who told me that they want their kids home after half an hour at the park on the way home basically care where their kids go after school as long as they are home at about 6ish. I was made to feel that I am an overprotective parent and sometimes they go to this other park, sometimes they go to down the woods nearby and hang out there and sometimes go to near the park On the way home.
Basically am I being overprotective. At this age I want to know where my son is and know when he will be home