Opinions!!!!!!!
 

Okay, Jeff and I are disagreeing about something, and he gave me permission to get the opinions of AFF!!!! :D

Hannah is starting riding lessons, and we live 2.5 miles from the stables. Jeff wants to let her ride her bike to the lessons (when its warm enough--it's not right now), and I DON'T think she's old enough to do that yet!!!!!

The pros are:

* We live in the country, so she wouldn't have to get on any main highways to get where's she's going.

* Jeff thinks she needs a little more freedom.

* She would have a cell phone and would have to call as soon as she arrived.

* She's 13.

Uh, I can't think of anymore pros.

The cons are:

* We live in the country, she would have to cross a bridge on the way, and some people do drive very fast on these country roads.

* She's 13.

* I don't like it.


Am I being unreasonable? I think 2.5 miles is too far. Right now she's only allowed to explore the dirt roads around our house which kind of wind around, and even though she has about a mile of road, she's never more than a quarter mile from our front door.

I can envision all kinds of things happening between our house and the stables.

I'm getting panicky thinking about it.

What are your thoughts? Am I being neurotic? Would you let your 13 year old ride that far?

Re: Opinions!!!!!!!
 

Your definately not being neurotic. I say do not let her ride her bike. You cannot be to careful in my opinion. Maybe an option would be for her to ride her bike.. but talk on the phone as she's riding.. (blue tooth).

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I vote no, but I'm a mother also. :D

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Talk on the phone while she's riding???? *passes out* :swoon


Maybe I can tail her in the car. Say a 1/4 mile behind or something? I wonder if she would notice....

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How is the traffic on this road she will be riding down and does she have a helment?

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Have you ever seen "A Time To Kill"? I have and I would not let my daugther do it, unless she is a VERY mature 13.

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NO
NO
NO
NO
NO

it's not about her or where you live - it's the day and age we live in. Ask your husband if her freedom is worth risking her never coming home!!!!

2 1/2 miles is far enough that someone could grab her and be gone before you'd even miss her - and if you are in the country, good chance no one would see it.

Not to mention how people DRIVE in the country.

and I'll say again



NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

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LOL. Ride along with her.

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I wouldnt let my daughter do it if she was any age!

people are SICK, you cannot take chances.

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When I was a kid I would do it however, we are not living in the same world as we used to therefore I vote on the side of caution---No!

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did I say NO?

somebody get me some water, my dander is UP

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oh my goodness, I need to lay down - I'm seriously all worked up over the thought of this LOL!!

then someone had to mention "A Time To Kill"......

oh lord, where is the fainting couch around here???

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She does have a helmet, and there isn't much traffic, BUT some people do drive too fast--because there's not much traffic.

I saw "A Time To Kill" a long time ago, but I don't remember what it was about....

She's a mature 13, but she's not very big! She weighs about 90 lbs. and is only 5' tall!

This whole conversation is making me feel :reaction

I told Jeff I was done talking about it, and he laughed and said he had a meeting anyway. He's the REAL brat in our family. :girlytantrum

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:vomit <------also how this is affecting me.

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So she LOOKS younger than she even is????


:reaction:swoon


Oh Lord how many ways can I say NO?!

A time to kill - little girl walking home from the store is brutally beaten and raped by a truck full of hooligans. Her dad kills the offenders as they walk through the courthouse

*did we mention she was walking on a country road????*

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This is proof positive that BOYS ARE STUPID

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Yeah, I don't think I can do it. (let her ride....)

I would actually be more comfortable if she were driving and safe inside a locked vehicle. So maybe in a couple of years...

It's not helping Jeff's case that last year two Oklahoma girls were shot and killed--in a rural area, for no apparent reason. Ages 13 and 11.

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I would just take her cause this is a jacked up world we live in and you cannot trust anyone anymore like you could back in the day.

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Hey, hey, hey, I are a man not a boy & I ain't stoopid!:stop

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Miss B
I'm with you. Maybe later [when's she's 18 :) ] but not yet. It is, indeed, a different day than when you and my children were growing up. The tragedy of the young girls in Oklahoma happened in very similar surroundings. Tell your husband I still think you're plenty smart!
Raven

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men, boy - same thing.

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I vote yes... I was riding all over town at 13, and I would have let my girls ride 2.5 miles in the country at that age.

If the area isn't safe, it would be a different.... but yeah, this mom would allow her to do that...especially with a cell phone.


oh, and my yes doesn't mean you are unreasonable... just that I agree with your husband.. I would just say you are a little nervous.. I understand... I just haven't ever been that way... I trusted my girls to ride in town and country at that age... without cell phones.

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times are different now than when we were 13

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When she's 20 maybe "might" consider it.

This world is to dangerous.

Easy to learn her pattern of lessons and plan an abduction.

If she is as pretty as her Mom she is a target.

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I walked to the PO when I was 13 also. It was a different day than today. Everyone hadn't lost their minds and most still believed in God and went to church.

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I think your husband is out numbered, Miss B. And he said you could start this thread so he has to honor it right?!!!!!!

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they found him after the pervert that got him snatched another kid...

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When I was 12/13 there was a group us that used to ride 3 miles to the neighbor town.
The key word is GROUP. If there was more than 1, I don't see a problem, but definitely not alone.

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It is a completely different day.

What I have bolded is a huge reason why. Undeniable.
The exact same land my dad grew up on as a child, ran from dawn till dusk on without fear of harm... is now the same land that drug dealers peddle their wares on.

Things have changed... The country isn't so innocent any longer.

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Here is the story....

kids riding their bikes in a seemingly safe country setting...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4474670.shtml

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Well, I plan to send him a link to the thread. LOL!!!! But he'll honor my opinion either way--we have always made it a policy to agree if there is any risk involved, and the negative vote wins. (Until they can be persuaded differently)

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I can't answer for you. :)

But I would highly recommend that you and Jeff both read this book (and any other parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, babysitter...anyone who cares for children in any way!)

https://www.gavindebecker.com/books-ptg.cfm

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This is a tough call. When my kids were young they were given lots of opportunity for independence. We lived in a small town (12,000) and I trusted them. They rode their bikes all over; walked the 1/2 mi to the city pool by themselves (grade school ages) etc.

But it is now 2009......unfortunately in todays' messed up world we cannot enjoy the same freedoms.
It is difficult for me to say this------------but I'll have to vote NO!


(with all the moving and many cities in which I've lived, 12,000 is the smallest ....lol )

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I've read many of your posts and I've always been impressed with your common sense approach to life, Miss B.
Sounds like you and your hubby are working together.

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One of my bosses told me one time to trust no one and assume nothing still use that advise today very good advise I thought

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but apparently they went together - not one child alone.

Perverts target the rural areas, around here it has happened far too often.....recently even.

People are sick, you just cannot let your kids out of your sight.

The news just YESTERDAY told of a WOMAN trying to abduct a 12 yr old girl at her bus stop

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I see what you're saying, and Jeff is going to like your post. LOL!!!

We certainly don't have much (if any) crime in this area.

*sigh*

I am more than a little nervous...:blink

Really, I don't think I can do it. She's going to have to be bigger, older and in a car. It's not that long really...in 2 years she'll be eligible for a driving permit, so she could drive the old farm truck.

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I live in a really safe, crime free area... Newman visited me and said it looks like a "Norman Rockwell town" anyway... so I was comfortable with my girls riding in town. Lots of people around and generally a safe area.

However, I decided to ask my coworker who sits next to me... she lives in the country and was raised in the country. She also has a 13 year old daughter... My friend said she rode in the country like that at 13, but that no, she wouldn't allow Casey to ride today because of the teens that drive and drink in the country...she said they seem to think because they are in the country the police aren't going to see them...so she said there is some trouble with teen boys in their area who she would worry about them harrassing her daughter... so agreed with everyone else.

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NO!!!!!!!!

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It doesn't matter how mature your child is there are some crazy folks out there. You would have a hard time forgiving yourself if something happened. Go with your motherly instinct.