I know I've already posted about feeling old, but this is something that SEEMS like it has changed. I see kids walking home from school all over the place by our house and I always ask myself "does their mom know they are out there walking alone on these busy streets?"But then it occurs to me that these kids are walking home from Cottonwood HIGH SCHOOL and they are well past the age of having their hands held by their parents. They LOOK like they are 10 years old- but they are really 16.
I walked to school from 1st grade through 9th grade, and the distance to the Elementary school more than doubled the distance to the Middle School. I remember when my mom told me I was "lucky enough to walk to school like Carter and Laura." It seemed plenty safe, however, they would leave earlier than I and I was usually on my own, unless I met up with friends. These paths lead through huge fields of sage brush then down a wide residential road that was still dirt, not yet paved, then you crossed 11400 S. (safely if you were timely enough to catch the crossing guard) then you'd slip through an open corner of the fence that ran the large perimeter of the school grounds.
When I imagine Jack walking that far at the age of 7 or 8 I feel TERRIFIED and possibly very PARANOID that he won't end up where he is headed, he'll get lost or someone will flat out take him before he can get there. I'm not sure if we just lived in a wonderful classic age of "keep your doors unlocked" and "your yard is our yard" but the idea of sending Jack down Highland Dr. to walk to Elementary School each day doesn't seem like a viable option. I'm hoping that I'm not going to be one those parents that builds the bubble around their one, precious child; I'm certainly failing at that now- but hopefully as Jack grows up, I will learn that he is perfectly capable of taking care of himself. (Right?) Cause that doesn't seem imaginable right now.
Then again, I remember thinking it was unimaginable that he would ever eat solid foods. So, I should gain some perspective, I guess..
3 comments:
I think that we live in a different time now than when we were growing up. A time with car seats (with five point harnesses) and bike helmets. I feel nervous sending my kids down the block to catch the bus (I arranged with a neighbor to have the kids wait in her house until the bus comes!). I don't think you can be too careful when it comes to your kids. We live in a new world and we have to embrace that as parents. I HAVE to go with my gut and if that means I'm overprotective, then so be it :)
Don't apologize about being worried about Highland Drive. That is a very dangerous thoroughfare with a high volume of fast-moving traffic. No 6 or 7 year old, including Jack, should be left alone to negotiate the vagaries of that death trap!
Highland Drive is too dangerous for any 6 or 7 year old to negotiate by him/herself.
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