Sitting here a nervous wreck......

[krcit]

I just let my dd walk to the pizzeria with her friend for the first time She's in 6th grade and almost 12 but I am very nervous and now kicking myself for not getting her that cell phone she wanted The funny thing is I was walking to tons of places at her age and much younger. It just seems like a different world today....or maybe my Mom just didn't care It's soooooo hard to start cutting that cord but I know it has to be done.

 

[L107ANGEL]

She will be fine Mom

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

As a mom we do all we can to protect them, but at some point we do have to cut the cord. I don't know how you feel right now, but I can only imagine. In a few years I will be sitting in your shoes. I hope that the day goes quickly for you because i know it will seem like eternity until she is back with you. HOpefully it will get easier and easier to see her go.

 

[TigerKat]

The cell phone is a Mom's best friend. Cutting the cord was the hardest thing I have ever done and believe me it only gets harder. DS is 16 and I worry about him everytime he takes off with his buddies. But I have to trust that he's a good kid and will make good decisions (isn't easy). I'm sure your daughter will be fine, but this world today is much different than when we were groing up. You'll feel much better if you get her that cell phone, trust me!

 

[SwedishMeatball]

My daughter just started driving by herself yesterday. It was the hardest thing standing at the window and watching her drive off.

 

[TigerKat]

My daughter just started driving by herself yesterday. It was the hardest thing standing at the window and watching her drive off.

My son still has his permit. 3 more months and I'll be in your shoes - VERY SCARY!!

 

[MushyMushy]

I say get the cell phone! It's really a load off your mind. Not 100%, but still better.

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

She will be ABSOLUTELY fine!!

My DD is 6 now, and I remember allowing her out to play outside the house, our little corner is very safe, with no through traffic, even though she was playing right out side the window, (our window goes down to the floor) I never took my eyes off it, but you move on as you know.

 

[luvflorida]

I know that feeling! I felt like that last night.

DD16 was picked up by two of her friends to go spend the night with another friend. One girl, the driver, is 17, and the other girl is almost 17. I know these girls. I know their parents. However, I'm just not comfortable with my daughter riding in cars with young drivers. I usually take her and pick her up. Last night, for the first time, I let her ride with her friends.

Until I knew she was safe at the other girl's house, I was a nervous wreck. I kept picturing the headlines: Teens killed in car crash.

I know, I know. I HAVE to let her go sometime, but it sure is difficult.

I picked her up this morning, and all is well.

 

[Andy B]

You have every right to feel nervous but little cause.

The world for youngsters in a normal neighbourhood is little more dangerous than they were 25 years ago, there is however greater publicity of incidents so we are all more sensitive to the possibility.

Remember ypu are a judge of your childs capabilities and to wrap them in cotton wool now means they be less able to cope later in more testing situations.

 

[Disney Doll]

to all you Moms and Dads. It's the hardest job in the world.

 

[krcit]

Thanks for the replies! She is fine-she came home and is now at her friends house. I'm glad that I let her go-she was so excited and she said the pizza was really, really good(she usually hates the pizza from there, lol) I can't even imagine the fear when the driving starts

 

[Barb D]

Time to let her get a cell phone! Sure, we managed without them, but back then there were lots more pay phones than there are now. It makes it a lot easier to give them freedom when there's a safety net.

 

[Cantw8]

You know, that's the thing with cell phones..they give parents such wonderful peace of mind I could never understand the arguments against letting your child have one my daughter was 12 and my son was 13....I didn't give them one because they were bugging me or because of their peer pressure, I did it for me

 

[CathrynRose]

The cell phone is a Mom's best friend. Cutting the cord was the hardest thing I have ever done and believe me it only gets harder. You'll feel much better if you get her that cell phone, trust me!

I agree 100%. I see a lot of posts about their young child wanting a cell-phone and the parents denying them such. My 11 & 15 y/o's cell phone's arent for THEM, theyre for ME!!! And the thing is, OTHER parents whom didnt give their child a cell phone, use my kids cell phone to then check in on their kids....mooching my minutes!!!

The cell phone for the boys was the BIGGEST stress releiver Ive done in a long time. And they better pick up, or they know theyre in deep-poopers. Even if calls dont go through (sometimes in someones basement, the signal is bad) Text Messages will always go through:

U BETTER CALL ME RIGHT NOW!!!

Is a popular one - I have it templated.

Now Im consdiering a GPS phone.

I know.... crazy!

But my son is starting Junior HIgh next year and I dont know about the school appreciating the "who did (my son) walk home from school with, did he leave normal time, etc, etc" calls I now make to the grammer school.

 

[krcit]

I have to say I'm one of those who said no way to a cell phone when dd started asking but that was when she wasn't really out without me or another adult. Now that I have to start giving her some freedom I can see that a cell phone would be a huge peace of mind for me. I was going to get her one for middle school in Sept but maybe I'll get her one for 6th grade graduation and make my summer a little less nerve wracking