Letting 11 year old walk to school

[houseinthecorner]

So my daughter who's 11 just started year 7. Her high school is a 40 minute Walk. I was walking with her all this week but because I have 3 other children in primary school it's getting difficult as my husbands annual leave is up and I have to manage it all whilst he's back at work. I need to let her walk alone, I know that but I'm very anxious about it. How Would you all deal with it? I just need to let her go but it's sad she's growing up and it's hard to just let her. There is no bus route there so she has to walk. My husband could give her a lift on the car before he goes to work but I don't want her to get used to that because she will still have to walk back and some mornifn she won't be available. How do I get over the anxiety of it all??

My dd is in no way 'cool' or anything but there is no way she'd let me walk her to secondary school.

I've enjoy dc being little but I'm also enjoying them getting older. It's different but it's still nice and I'm close now to dd (13) than I was before. She still loves me, I still love her and we still do things together.

It'll be ok. I have to send my 11 year old on a bus to a large city. She texted me to let me know she'd arrived for a few days, then we all got used to it.

I thought basically every Year 7 took themselves to school? I had to catch a train to my secondary school and did so alone right from when I started in Yr 7.

Is there a friend she can walk with?

How do you get over the anxiety? You let her do it. First day you'll be very anxious, but each subsequent day will get easier until it becomes normal.

Remember, in 7 years she'll be a totally independent adult. This is part of the process of working up to that (it gets easier w child 2).

Thank you for your replies. She walked herself to school on Thursday and Friday and text me when she got there. It was easier on Friday that it was Thursday but like you all said it gets easier as each day passes

DS is 10 and walks home a similar distance. He enjoys the independence and we talked through what he might do if faced with something unexpected.

My twin boys now 15 have walked ever since year 7 and they have been fine just tell her to look out for busy road if there is one

Would it help to remind yourself that your anxiety is v likely to be damaging to her, likely to prevent her living a full life if you pass it on to her?

Is it her anxiety or yours dominating this situation? I'm sure an 11yo can look at any opportunity for a lift , even part way, as a nice to have rather than become dependent. Are there any friends she can meet along the way?

My 8 year old walks to school and back by himself, well with friends usually. It's less than 10 minutes though. I think cycling would be a better idea, depending on what sort of roads she'd have to travel, much quicker.