Will you STILL let your kids walk alone?
Sometimes, the real world intrudes in a way that really makes you question your ideals.
A couple weeks ago, I blogged about kids walking to school by themselves. I wrote about how I believe kids need to be gradually given some freedom to get out in the world alone.
But yesterday, a Pembroke Pines girl, walking from school, declined a ride from a stranger, only to be surprised by him when she got home. This is simply terrifying.
The girl did the right thing. She didn't accept the ride, for starters. And she must have been alert enough to note his face. Then, she ran SCREAMING from her home when she found the man there.
We don't know much about her -- her age, or whether her family situation is such that she has no choice but to walk home. So I'm not about to judge her parents.
But I will commend her for being a quick thinker and being well-schooled in what to do in a terrifying situation. Yes, something horrible could have happened. But I still say, we can't insulate our kids from the real world, and we have to equip them with life-saving skills.
I wonder: Have I done that? Have I really prepared my kids well?
They don't walk to school, but they are in any number of potentially risky situations, at the park or the mall or a Friday night football game.
I think it's time to have another talk.
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