swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on May 24, 2013 10:59:34 GMT -5
next year?
Last fall, I started a thread about my kids walking to the babysitter's afterschool and I was pretty much crucified. I paid a 6th grader to walk them over.
Would you let them do it this fall?
It is a small private school on a quiet residential street. The babysitter is about a block away. They would have to cross the street, go a half block, turn left, and go a half block. I know everyone from the school to the babysitters.
DD will be 5, 6 in October. She will be in Kindergarten. DS will be 7 in second grade.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on May 24, 2013 11:06:02 GMT -5
If you don't let them, they will live with you forever, and we will point and call you a failure.
|
|
milee
Senior Associate
Joined: Jan 17, 2012 13:20:00 GMT -5
Posts: 12,344
|
Post by milee on May 24, 2013 11:06:37 GMT -5
Are you bored today and wanted a good fight or what?
Where's Steve and his crazy dogstroller when you need him? Steve! Steve!!! The board is bored. We need to you stir the doodie.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on May 24, 2013 11:09:11 GMT -5
And - when you do and something goes wrong - we will point and tell you it is all your fault for not watching them.
|
|
nogooddeed
Established Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:45:06 GMT -5
Posts: 358
|
Post by nogooddeed on May 24, 2013 11:13:24 GMT -5
As long as it's not a busy street, I'd let them do it.
|
|
GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
Senior Associate
"How you win matters." Ender, Ender's Game
Joined: Jan 2, 2011 13:33:09 GMT -5
Posts: 11,291
|
Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on May 24, 2013 11:17:03 GMT -5
Are you bored today and wanted a good fight or what?
Where's Steve and his crazy dogstroller when you need him? Steve! Steve!!! The board is bored. We need to you stir the doodie. If you really loved your children, you'd be a SAHM who picks them up in her uber-expensive and large SUV after school each and every day and take them home to an after school snack of warm cookies baked from scratch that day and hormone-free, organic, milk.
|
|
swasat
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2011 9:34:28 GMT -5
Posts: 3,735
|
Post by swasat on May 24, 2013 11:17:27 GMT -5
I think Swamp is waiting for Shooby to show up and start the argument all over again
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on May 24, 2013 11:18:17 GMT -5
Are you bored today and wanted a good fight or what?
Where's Steve and his crazy dogstroller when you need him? Steve! Steve!!! The board is bored. We need to you stir the doodie. If you really loved your children, you'd be a SAHM who picks them up in her uber-expensive and large SUV after school each and every day and take them home to an after school snack of warm cookies baked from scratch that day and hormone-free, organic, milk. AND let's them skip school to go to the zoo on Tuesday, while telling all the other children that their mother sucks for taking them to the zoo on Saturday.
|
|
swasat
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2011 9:34:28 GMT -5
Posts: 3,735
|
Post by swasat on May 24, 2013 11:19:08 GMT -5
Are you bored today and wanted a good fight or what?
Where's Steve and his crazy dogstroller when you need him? Steve! Steve!!! The board is bored. We need to you stir the doodie. If you really loved your children, you'd be a SAHM who picks them up in her uber-expensive and large SUV after school each and every day and take them home to an after school snack of warm cookies baked from scratch that day and hormone-free, organic, milk. ANd take them to the zoo on Thursday
Fixed. Thats what a good SAHM would per suziQ ETA: Thyme beat me to it
|
|
milee
Senior Associate
Joined: Jan 17, 2012 13:20:00 GMT -5
Posts: 12,344
|
Post by milee on May 24, 2013 11:20:15 GMT -5
I think Swamp is waiting for Shooby to show up and start the argument all over again There is no arguing with Shooby. Everything just simply is what it is stated to be. And stated to be.... and stated to be. Maybe 15 times. Because it is what it is and there's no need for discussion. Before I get grief for that dig, BTW, as frustrating as that is on a message board, I think that kind of implacable inflexibility is exactly what Naggie starts needing to channel in dealing with her daughter, so it has it's place.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on May 24, 2013 11:22:26 GMT -5
I think Swamp is waiting for Shooby to show up and start the argument all over again There is no arguing with Shooby. Everything just simply is what it is stated to be. And stated to be.... and stated to be. Maybe 15 times. Because it is what it is. and everyone knows it.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on May 24, 2013 11:24:51 GMT -5
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on May 24, 2013 11:29:05 GMT -5
I'm going to give them the same advice I gave DH when he got a parking ticket. "WTF do you want me to do about it? Buck up and pay, dude."
|
|
Abby Normal
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 12:31:49 GMT -5
Posts: 3,501
|
Post by Abby Normal on May 24, 2013 11:59:17 GMT -5
Is that the walk from the school or your house? If it's from the school, then I'd definitely let them. There would be a ton of other kids around as school lets out. If it's from your house to the sitters- you have to judge. I would do it in my neighborhood, but not in grandma's. Use your best judgement and to hell with whatever everyone else thinks.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on May 24, 2013 12:00:20 GMT -5
Is that the walk from the school or your house? If it's from the school, then I'd definitely let them. There would be a ton of other kids around as school lets out. If it's from your house to the sitters- you have to judge. I would do it in my neighborhood, but not in grandma's. Use your best judgement and to hell with whatever everyone else thinks. from the school to the babysitter. I live 10 miles from the school and the babysitter and on a major highway. I won't let them walk that yet.
|
|
alabamagal
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 11:30:29 GMT -5
Posts: 8,146
|
Post by alabamagal on May 24, 2013 12:05:58 GMT -5
I would let them go to babysitters. I think I would have last year....
When I started first grade at elementary school, I walked 6 blocks, including crossing a busy street with a crossing light. I think my mom was concerned, so she made me walk with the boy down the street, who was in 2nd grade! And we weren't these red-shirted elementary school kids either, we were 6 and 7 at the start of the school year.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 4:18:26 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 12:11:12 GMT -5
Is that the walk from the school or your house? If it's from the school, then I'd definitely let them. There would be a ton of other kids around as school lets out. If it's from your house to the sitters- you have to judge. I would do it in my neighborhood, but not in grandma's. Use your best judgement and to hell with whatever everyone else thinks. from the school to the babysitter. I live 10 miles from the school and the babysitter and on a major highway. I won't let them walk that yet. Yet?
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 4:18:26 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 12:13:26 GMT -5
I would. I walked to and from school from daycare in Kindergarten with the daycare lady's son (same age). We had one busy street and it was about 4 blocks.
Starting in first grade I stayed home and that was more like 8 blocks, no busy streets.
We're in the country so my kids ride the bus, but they has to do a transfer at the busy high school which I think is almost worse for a 5 year old.
|
|
kittensaver
Junior Associate
We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
Joined: Nov 22, 2011 16:16:36 GMT -5
Posts: 7,983
|
Post by kittensaver on May 24, 2013 12:15:23 GMT -5
I would let them do it. But I would probably try to arrange with all the moms and kids who go that sitter to meet up somewhere on the school side and all walk together.
Yeah, yeah, yeah - I know everyone is different, but I walked about 3/4 of a mile to school (and back) every day starting in 1st grade. But it was a quiet residential neighborhood and a number of kids walked it. We'd meet along the way and "pick kids up" as we went (and "drop them off" and we went home). Only one set of kids had a farther walk than we did. I had two older brothers so I was never alone. We all also wore uniforms so the neighborhood was well aware of us.
The only time we got a ride was when it was raining.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on May 24, 2013 12:15:29 GMT -5
Have you considered a pre-paid cell phone that has NOTHING but a way to call you. You could have them call before they leave, and as soon as they get there?
|
|
mmhmm
Administrator
It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 18:13:34 GMT -5
Posts: 31,770
Today's Mood: Saddened by Events
Location: Memory Lane
Favorite Drink: Water
|
Post by mmhmm on May 24, 2013 12:18:32 GMT -5
I don't see a problem with the kids walking that short distance after school. I don't know I'd do it in the ghetto, but in a nice, residential area, I'd feel okay about it.
|
|
Abby Normal
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 12:31:49 GMT -5
Posts: 3,501
|
Post by Abby Normal on May 24, 2013 12:21:31 GMT -5
I would let them do it. But I would probably try to arrange with all the moms and kids who go that sitter to meet up somewhere on the school side and all walk together. My son did that. There were several kids at the school that went to the same day care. They would meet at a bench in the lobby and all walk together. But they also went before school so they knew who they were waiting for that day.
|
|
steph08
Junior Associate
Joined: Jan 3, 2011 13:06:01 GMT -5
Posts: 5,503
|
Post by steph08 on May 24, 2013 12:25:38 GMT -5
Is there a crossing guard on the street that they will have to cross? If so, then I think it would be fine. If not, that is really the only part I would be worried about - are your kids good at crossing the street without an adult there?
|
|
gooddecisions
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 13:42:28 GMT -5
Posts: 2,418
|
Post by gooddecisions on May 24, 2013 12:27:00 GMT -5
Schools in my county do not allow kids that young to walk home unsupervised. They can get on a school bus and off a bus, but not leave the school without supervision. When they are a little older- around 7 or 8 they allow parents to assess maturity over whether non-transportation routes are okay for a child to walk unsupervised.
Can't the babysitter just walk over?
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on May 24, 2013 12:45:00 GMT -5
Is there a crossing guard on the street that they will have to cross? If so, then I think it would be fine. If not, that is really the only part I would be worried about - are your kids good at crossing the street without an adult there? No, and yes. DD will not go out in the street if she can see a moving car anywhere. I'm more worried it would take them 1/2 hour to go one block.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on May 24, 2013 12:46:18 GMT -5
Can't the babysitter just walk over? You want me to have her bundle up 5 kids ranging from 6 weeks to 4, in what may be in the middle of nap time, to get my kids?
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on May 24, 2013 12:48:06 GMT -5
DD will not go out in the street if she can see a moving car anywhere. I'm more worried it would take them 1/2 hour to go one block. Hire this guy to chase them to the babysitters for a couple of weeks. After that, she won't be so afraid of the cars.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on May 24, 2013 12:50:13 GMT -5
DD will not go out in the street if she can see a moving car anywhere. I'm more worried it would take them 1/2 hour to go one block. Hire this guy to chase them to the babysitters for a couple of weeks. After that, she won't be so afraid of the cars. [img]http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.com/vsmileys/rofl.gif[/img] DD is absolutely petrified of "characters" like that, so that would make it extra funny.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,762
|
Post by thyme4change on May 24, 2013 12:51:03 GMT -5
You have said that before, which is what made me think of it.
|
|
NomoreDramaQ1015
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:26:32 GMT -5
Posts: 48,069
|
Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on May 24, 2013 12:53:11 GMT -5
I think they would be fine. When I was in pre-school I used to walk across the street from the church to the park to meet my grandma and we'd walk back to her house. I've lived to be 30 so far despite the massive danger in walking a block's distance unsupervised at 4.
|
|