Opinions!!!!!!!

[Pragmatist]

Originally Posted by commonsense

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 )

As commonsense's youngest, I voted yes. I think 13 is old enough to have some independence. We did go all over alone, and much younger than 13. And there were probably just as many freaks and perverts, then. We just didn't have 24 hour cable news, so we didn't get details of all of the bad things that happened.

[Newman]

Originally Posted by Pragmatist

As commonsense's youngest, I voted yes. I think 13 is old enough to have some independence. We did go all over alone, and much younger than 13. And there were probably just as many freaks and perverts, then. We just didn't have 24 hour cable news, so we didn't get details of all of the bad things that happened.

I tend to think the biggest problem with Miss B's daughter riding bike the short distance is the remoteness and thus opportunity to hurt or kidnap her child without others intervening.

I have a vivid memory of a a kidnapping that took place in my state. It was immedietely reported by a driver on an expressway who saw a young boy (about 12 years old) abducted in the middle of the afternoon. The child was pulled off his bike as he rode on the dirt road that ran beside the expressway (but no off ramp was near where this occurred). The driver on the expressway was unable to intervene and watched helplessly. Even though the driver contacted police right away with some description of the car; it got away. The boy's body was recovered later in the week. The sexual predator was eventually apprehended.

I think that today is different from an earlier time (not simply because more news gets out there) but I suspect the porn filled internet leads some to stalk children or at the very least take advantage of them if the occasion arises.

I have seen way too much at court. It is a sick, sick world. Kids need to be protected.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Abbie, I agree that with age we need to let our children have more rope, but with the fun is responsibility. I think a first aid class, a self defense class, and given a little more mileage at a time to work up to that 2.5 mi. Children don't understand the dangers and don't have the experience in certain situations to know what to do.

My children and I used to have fire drills. If there was a fire we would all go out the nearest window and stand by the mailbox so everyone would know who is and isn't accounted for. Safety first.

I didn't check a box because none quite fit.

Blessings, Rhoni

Originally Posted by OP_Carl

Miss B,

I would give her instructions and training, and then let her go.

Then I would test her instructions and training, perhaps with the help of a neighbor.

If she didn't pass the test, her freedom would be put on hold for another year.

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

It depends on how much traffic is on the road.

If I was a Dad, I'd have a hard time convincing myself to let her ride on a road that was busy or had inconsiderate drivers on it on a regular basis.


But I don't disagree with the concept of allowing her more freedom.

Maybe I'd find another way to express her freedom-- as in letting her get away from home for summer retreats, leadership camps or something.

Originally Posted by Sherri

I probably couldn't let her do it, if it were my daughter. I guess I've heard too many scary abduction stories and I try to be extra careful. However, having an overly adventurous daughter like I have, she did a lot of things that I didn't find out about until much later, and she still survived. LOL!

Originally Posted by Fiyahstarter

I wouldn't let my daughters do it...and I wouldn't let my son do it either. To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't even do it myself. There are far too many DRUNKS on the road and kids (and adults) trying to drive with cell phones. I don't even like being in my car. I prefer the pickup when we travel!!! Signed, me... out there!

Originally Posted by Fiyahstarter

Now I'm thinking just the opposite... I DO live in the country and I can tell you many drunk drivers take to the "back roads" in order to avoid police and heavier traffic. I am a "walker" and I am very cautious walking on these back roads... Cars FLY by at high rates of speed. (Some drunks and some young kids behind the wheel... feeling their oats, I guess.) Over the years, many cars have swerved at me I've nearly been hit several times ... NO WAY I'd ever let my kids ride their bikes on THESE back roads.

However,

I always thought that if I lived "in town", where there were sidewalks and people everywhere... it might have been a different story.

Originally Posted by Newman

I tend to think the biggest problem with Miss B's daughter riding bike the short distance is the remoteness and thus opportunity to hurt or kidnap her child without others intervening.

I have a vivid memory of a a kidnapping that took place in my state. It was immedietely reported by a driver on an expressway who saw a young boy (about 12 years old) abducted in the middle of the afternoon. The child was pulled off his bike as he rode on the dirt road that ran beside the expressway (but no off ramp was near where this occurred). The driver on the expressway was unable to intervene and watched helplessly. Even though the driver contacted police right away with some description of the car; it got away. The boy's body was recovered later in the week. The sexual predator was eventually apprehended.

I think that today is different from an earlier time (not simply because more news gets out there) but I suspect the porn filled internet leads some to stalk children or at the very least take advantage of them if the occasion arises.

I have seen way too much at court. It is a sick, sick world. Kids need to be protected.

We live in dangerous times and have to be on the offensive. Safety first. You don't need to worry so much about your daughter , but like so many have said; the drunks, the pedophiles, and those looking for the perfect scenerio,i.e., isolated areas to do evil.

Blessings, Rhoni

[Carpenter]

People around here call me anal Bill only because I am so over the top when it comes to my daughter's safety.

One day we went over a friends house where my 7 year old daughter was on a play date. The two girls were out back bobbing for tangerines in this HUGE bucket (4x the home depot orange bucket), and the parents were doing whatever, but they weren't outside with the girls. One little slip and either could have been head down in the water without a way to get out.

I freaked!

You cannot trust kids to have foresight of what COULD happen until they are 27 and then not even. I am convinced some parents are morons.

I vote no. Dust off your bike and ride along with her.

[OP_Carl]

Originally Posted by pelathais

The best we can do is teach them and pray for them. They will find trouble. I'm saddened by most of the responses here. If I lived out of town a bit like MissBrat I would have turned my kids loose even more.

Originally Posted by Rhoni

We live in dangerous times and have to be on the offensive. Safety first. You don't need to worry so much about your daughter , but like so many have said; the drunks, the pedophiles, and those looking for the perfect scenerio,i.e., isolated areas to do evil.

Blessings, Rhoni

Originally Posted by Carpenter

People around here call me anal Bill only because I am so over the top when it comes to my daughter's safety.

One day we went over a friends house where my 7 year old daughter was on a play date. The two girls were out back bobbing for tangerines in this HUGE bucket (4x the home depot orange bucket), and the parents were doing whatever, but they weren't outside with the girls. One little slip and either could have been head down in the water without a way to get out.

I freaked!

You cannot trust kids to have foresight of what COULD happen until they are 27 and then not even. I am convinced some parents are morons.

I vote no. Dust off your bike and ride along with her.

I don't believe our times are any more dangerous than they were in the past, only more fearful

Conduct lectures and training on safety, by all means. Know your kids and what they are ready for by observing their level of maturity. I am blown away by the overwhelming number of people who choose to live with a fearful bunker mentality.

A spirit of fear is not a gift from God.