Middle school = change. BIG change. Especially for my 6th grade daughter who, until a short while ago, suffered from separation anxiety that caused her to miss out on everything from birthday parties to organized sports. She never dreamed of wanting to go anywhere or do anything without me. But now, just a few short months after starting middle school, she is ready to spread her wings a bit. She's still perfectly content to have me around but I know she's feeling the pressure from her friends to go off on her own.
She's got friends who can be dropped off just about anywhere with just about anyone...no questions asked. While other friends are all but kept under lock and key except for school and church. Where do we fit in? How much freedom is appropriate? How much is too much?When is it ok to drop my child off and when should I stick by and supervise? This is what I'm struggling with.
Some of Gianna's friends go to the local rec center on Friday nights to play dodgeball, basketball or swim..... or hang out and make a nuisance of themselves. Do I drop her off? Do I stay?
She loves ice skating and has introduced it to several friends. They've been asking to go at least once/week if not more. Do I drop her off? Do I stay?
Of course, every now and then there's an easy one...like the boy who called to ask my daughter to a movie and wanted to know if she could go without a parent. Ummm.....NO. Where I come from thats called a date and my 11year old is NOT dating thankyouverymuch.
So I ask you, my fellow tween parents...what freedoms are you giving your children these days? How has it changed over their tween years?When do you stick around and when do you let them go on their own? I dont mean school or church functions...I'm talking about public places where kids may want to go like movies, skating, the rec center, the mall. How do we know when to let go?
