School mom rant

[Fireflower201]

My son who is 10 went to stay with his friend overnight me and the mom get on fairly well, basically we converse cause our sons are friends, I asked her what she planned to do and she said they was going out to eat and gone to play on the computer.

Today I collect my son and she tells me with joy she has let them go off to the park on there own, completely unsupervised 😳😳 would you be annoyed about this?

My son is not street wise, and for a 10 year old to just walk to the park on there own I’m very shocked by her actions.

What do you think?

According to her when I asked why she let them go to the park on there own she said her son does not normally go on his own but as my son was there, her son apparently kept ‘pestering’ her to go so she caved in ...
I’m unsure if I believe her I asked my son and he claims the mom said she needed to clean the house and they could run around the park for a bit

You'd be fine with your ten year old going to the park on their own when there are hundreds of kids being stabbed on our streets?

OP I'd be horrified!

But but they're ten! Unless they have to cross a railway line or past crackhouses I can't see the issue at all! Where do you live OP?

Hundreds of kids being stabbed? What now? Where do you live?

Hundreds of kids being stabbed? Ten year olds in the park getting stabbed? Where?

They’re in year 6! Why would you not let them go to the park by themselves?

Where is the park in relation to their house? Pretty close?
Children routinely play out supervised, go to the park and walk to school alone from age 9 round here. It wouldn't have occurred to me that a parent would have an issue with their 10 year old going there (and it would be under strict parameters such as "stay within this area", be home by x time). I'd rather they go to the park than be glued to the computer ...

Unless you live somewhere scary it's the park! I don't know any children in my area who would be accompanied to school a year later so most would be allowed to the local park.

Those who are horrified by unsupervised 10 year olds ... what age would it be ok to go to the park by themselves? Because in 10 months' time these DC will be starting secondary and potentially navigating long walks/cycle rides/public transport all by themselves.

Surly he's been popping to the local shop, walking to friends etc on his own already unless you live very rural.
He needs to get road sense and be independent by September. You're not giving yourself much time to help him gain these skills.
Unless there is something you haven't told us he should be fine with a short walk to the park and cross roads without adult support.

Well, perhaps you could thank her, OP, as she has allowed your DS to get a bit more streetwise than he was before.
You don't get wise when Mummy is holding your hand, do you?
He survived. Perhaps you could let them do this again.
This is how DCs learn how to manage - short trips, gradually going further and longer.

It all depends where the park is. Our old house have to cross four roads (one busy and tricky for pedestrians with poor visibility) and is 10 min walk, even further to the decent park. New house one park is not much further than the end of our garden. Other park is a ten minute walk but just one tricky road with a pedestrian crossing.

I would let my ten year old and a friend walk to the park, but I would have checked with the parents first. By 11 or 12 I would assume that they were fine to go alone.

I have 3 children age 11, 13 & 15.They all started walking to school on their own in Year 5, so age 9 or 10, as did all their friends. Some even got to bus to school on their own at that age. They then went to the park on their own, the shops, friends houses etc, etc. To be honest with you, I think it's quite unusual for a 10 year old not to be allowed out on their own. The mother probably just thought it was normal & it didn't occur to her you might have a problem with it. As others have said, your son will be going to secondary school soon, you need to start cutting the apron strings.

My son is not street wise...
Now your DS is a little more street wise OP.