generalparenting

My two younger kids have never really asked if they can go places by themselves. They are usually together or with friends and their parents. So over this last summer they started asking to do things on their own, simple things, like go to the park which is only two or three blocks away, or to walk to the library which is less than half a mile away. I live in a small town where nothing ever happens and it is one of the safer towns across the country, has won recognition as being such, so I know they are safe here but the are my babies and I had some anxiety over it any way.

The older of the two has gone to the park with friends and no parents over the summer and has not had any problems except for a local teen trying to get her to smoke, and she has walked around town a few times (that can be accomplished in about a half hour because the town is so small :D) she has always been home on time and without any troubles.

My son has walked to the library on more than one occasion and has ridden his bike to where he volunteers several times and all has been well… but I still worry. I know I’m just being an over protective mother hen but for some reason it’s been harder for me to give my younger two kids these freedoms than it was for me to give my oldest daughter the same freedoms.

When she was that age I just thought about when I was a kid I spent all day away from home walking around with my friends. It wasn’t a big deal, but now with my younger kids it seems so scary. I’m not real sure why. My older daughter didn’t get into any trouble when she was out at that age and nothing bad happened to her so why the extra worrying now? Hmmm I’m not real sure but I’m going to have to get over it or I will give myself a heart attack worrying. The funny thing is that the younger kids don’t even ask to go that often but I still worry. I can’t seem to come to grips with the fact that like their older sister they too are growing up. So what do you think? Am I being over protective?