Couple warned over allowing children to cycle to school alone

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

From the Telegraph.

Captainspeaking, you're boring.

So boring that you had to switch on your computer, log in and make a post telling me how boring I am?

Well, it's nice to meet a fan.

In every job there are people checking that you are doing your job properly; why should parenting be any different? People frequently say that it's the "most important job in the world", and therefore shouldn't it be subject to the most stringent checks? Your children are not your property, you don't have the right to do whatever the hell you like if it is endangering them.

CS you just sound hysterical.

Yep, that boring. Actually boring isn't the word. You are actually quite entertaining. It's not often you meet someone so far up their own backside as you.

As for the OP, I wouldn't let my 9 yr old take my 6 yr old to school. She just isn't confident enough. All children are different. We have 2 busy roads to cross without crossing patrols. She does go to shop at the end of our road on her own quite happily, but not to school - I like to make sure she goes in anyway!

CS - I did read article but I skimmed it for the parents's views and I must have missed the bit about pick ups. So sorry. However, you said that they rode on quiet back streets whereas the articles says their route "takes them along a pavement beside roads busy with traffic on the school run streets". Hardly quiet back street.

The uneven pavement thing was just one more hazard taken out of context from the rest of the post. You really do need to calm down, dear. I wasn't suggesting that was the only reason that 5 yr old shouldn't ride to school alone. I notice you didn't comment on the reversing cars not seeing a small child though.

And why are they on the pavement anyway? They are a danger to other people, especially the old and infirm who are unsteady on their feet. Nobody should be riding on a pavement. But I suppose those people don't count and their independence count for much.

captainspeaking - clearly you don't know the area. 'Quiet backstreets' my arse.

Pah, That should read 'I don't suppose those people and their independence count for much' - that will teach me to press send too soon.

"She just isn't confident enough."

And whose fault is that?

Should other, more able parents whose kids can be trusted to go to school without being watched be punished because your kids are truants?

What an odd idea.

Until that last post I just assumed you were slightly odd. Now I suspect you are CK but shall hide the thread as I can't be doing with troll-spotting.

Oh Captainspeaking I think I love you.

Your people skills are amazing, I bet you work in PR don't you.

how does saying the child isnt confident enough correlate to being a truant?

did i miss something?

wow - that's quite a jump from not being confident enough (and that's rarely anyone's "fault") to take their 6yr old sibling to school to being a truant.

Lou - if you missed something - so did I

huh? I'm a bit lost as well.

Okay. I made a lighthearted comment about wanting to make sure my children are at safely at school and all of a sudden my 9 yr old is a truant whose parent doesn't care what she is up to? You really are ignorant.

She has had a couple of confidence issues at school caused by a 'short period of bullying which has now been sorted. A few times she didn't want to go in because she was so worried about what might be said/done to her that day. So yes, I do want to make sure she goes in to school, safely and happily.

Not sure why I am justifying it to you though. Perhaps I am a bad parent who feels guilty about her daughter not being an over confident, precocious chav? I don't think so.

oh faerynuff - I'm disappointed in you.

I'm raising my boys to be arrogant, precocious chavs, I want them to be the talk of the town

Perhaps you can give me some parenting tips toccatanfudge?

well - where to begin

of course it helps that they're mixed race boys - that's always a good starter if you're looking for stereoypes, and a few hoodies on them finish that part of the look off well.

They're skinny lads (must be all that being cooped up at home with no freedom that does that ) so are frequently seen with their trsouers half way down their bum.........

"I'm raising my boys to be arrogant, precocious chavs, I want them to be the talk of the town"

Well, like mother like son I guess.

did you hear that - that was CS's sense of humour dropping through the floor

hahahahahahaha

I feel like Butch Cassidy - "who are those guys?"

Time cs revealed herself...

i am lost for words now, aside from the first verse of "comfortably numb" springing to mind

that had me howling with laughter CS.

Tocc - you know you and I are raising delinquent children don't you?

Oh and I let my child when she was 4 get on a bus to and from school

And no, it wasn't a specifically "school" bus but there were loads of other kids from the school on the bus and I went the first day to make sure that she knew what she was doing.

And after about a week of her coming home from school on the bus on her own, she announced that she was a big girl and could walk from the bus stop on her own.

It involved crossing a tiny road and I was beside myself with angst that she might not be able to manage the titchy road on her own. Cue much hiding behind bushes in the garden trying to spy her crossing the road.

My next door neighbour spied me one day and asked me what the hell I was up to and I told him. Bless him he just happened to be walking his dogs past the bus stop every day at the time she got home for 6 weeks til we were very sure that she could manage.

She never suspected a thing!