Speaking of being your own expert, I’ve been writing for some time about my desire to give my kids more freedom than seems socially acceptable–and how hard it can be to buck the parental trend and appear–gasp!–irresponsible.
So I was glad to see Lenore Skenazy’s book, Free-Range Kids, is finally available. I blogged my take on the Lenore Skenazy/Free-Range Kids topic today at Chicago Moms Blog. From the post:
You may not agree with all of her views, and you might think it paints an overly-rosy view of childhood and safety today. But I’m glad Skenazy took all that heat for her son’s jaunt onto the subway, because at least it’s opening some discussion, and the discussion has been enlightening: oh my goodness, there are other people who feel the same way I do!
I am so glad you wrote about this and cannot wait to get the book. I saw the author on the view the other day and agreed with her on so many levels. WE have become way too overprotective of our kids. We need to let them grow in independance in the small things, so they will know how to make choice independantly as they grow older and the options become even more serious. I’,m glad someone is finally speaking out about the overprotectivness of parents and allowing our kids to grow up independantly and with confidence, without us constantly hovering over them. When I was a child I was able to walk to the neighbors house by myself and play. I stood at the bus stop by myself and waited for the bus. I was even home alone (gasp) for an hour or so before my mom came home from work. It all helped me to be a better teenager and adult.