| I just read an article about a woman in New York who | | | | good thing, but only if your child is ready. |
| let her nine-year-old make his way home alone via the | | | | How do you know if he's ready? Ask yourself some |
| subway and a cross-town city bus. I'll admit I was a bit | | | | questions. Is he comfortable speaking with adults other |
| flabbergasted when I read that. Of course, I've never | | | | than his parents? Does he know how to ask for help |
| been to New York, so my images of that city come | | | | or directions? Can he shout, "You're not my parent," if |
| mainly from episodes of Law & Order, where | | | | an adult tries to grab him? And finally, does he even |
| brutal crimes occur almost daily and children are | | | | want to try something new? Sometimes we push our |
| abducted on a regular basis. | | | | kids to do things before they are ready, simply |
| The author argued that children who are coddled and | | | | because their cousins are doing it or their friends are, |
| overprotected grow up unable to do anything and | | | | and we, the parents, can't stand to be left behind. |
| afraid of almost everything. It's true that my brother | | | | The key is to find a happy medium between |
| and I had the run of the neighborhood by around age | | | | overprotecting your child (e.g. the grandmother who |
| seven, and we didn't have to report in; we just had to | | | | forced her mortified 12-yr.-old grandson to come into |
| be home by a certain time and that was that. But that | | | | the ladies room with her) and throwing caution to the |
| was the sixties and I honestly think the world has | | | | wind (allowing your 9-yr.-old to wander the streets of |
| changed, and not necessarily for the better. | | | | New York completely alone.) Watch your child for |
| On the other hand, it's great to give your child | | | | signs of readiness and then give him the chance to |
| opportunities to demonstrate their independence and | | | | strike out on his own, gradually at first, with mom or |
| gain self-confidence. Whether it's going to a public | | | | dad nearby for backup. Then, when the time is right, let |
| restroom alone or crossing the street to play with a | | | | him loose. |
| neighbor, these little steps toward self-reliance are a | | | | |