Is an 11-year-old old enough to... - Page 2

[mamazee]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

In case you missed my above post, it's not that I am paranoid. My mother was extremely neglectful as a child and allowed me to stay home alone with my young sister until two or three in the morning when I was only 8. I had a lot of unreasonable expectations placed on me as a very young child, and one of the reasons I am thankful for the internet is that it allows me to doublecheck my perceptions against the norm. Please don't be sad for me, but also don't assume that I am acting out of paranoia.

I'm not talking about you specifically, I'm talking about society in general. I hear people IRL talk about this exact kind of thing too, so it must be a bigger issue than your specific upbringing. I have friends who don't let an 11-year-old leave their cul-de-sac of five houses, for instance.

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

drop off at the movies with a friend? He really wants to go see Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and I would rather lick the floor then sit through that. But I could maybe drop him off with his buddy, do a little shopping, and then pick him up when it's over.

That sounds like something I would be comfortable with DD doing (she is also 11).

Because I'm on the paranoid side, I would probably wait right outside until I was pretty sure the movie had started (so I knew they were settled) and then be back a few minutes before they should be out. I would also go over what they should do if they came out and I wasn't there.

Big step! I'm assuming any day now here.

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by mamazee

I'm not talking about you specifically, I'm talking about society in general. I hear people IRL talk about this exact kind of thing too, so it must be a bigger issue than your specific upbringing. I have friends who don't let an 11-year-old leave their cul-de-sac of five houses, for instance.

Sorry, I assumed you meant me because the thread was about my kid.

[aussiemum]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

My biggest worry (and it's not keeping me up all night or anything) would be other people being weird or rude or whatever.

That is my biggest worry too. Even when they just walk a block to the corner store to buy a jug of milk.

Sounds like you have found a good solution to your question, annettemarie.

[enkmom]

I always instructed my kids to move to other seats if they felt uncomfortable, and to speak with an employee if they felt threatened. Actually, the only thing that ever happened to them is that a kid their own age sat next to them because he had been dropped off at the movies by himself and was lonely.

[annettemarie]

Well, they're at the movie now. I went in with them, they bought there own tickets, found out the stupid movie is two hours long, and am now sitting in Borders, drinking a tea and catching up on Harry Potter fan fiction. I could actually kind of get used to this.

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Well, they're at the movie now. I went in with them, they bought there own tickets, found out the stupid movie is two hours long, and am now sitting in Borders, drinking a tea and catching up on Harry Potter fan fiction. I could actually kind of get used to this.

Have fun! Oh & please have DS give a movie review. I always take his comments very seriously (i'm totally serious here).

[fiorio]

I'm glad you let him go with his friend and you get to enjoy some time to yourself!

We took our 5 yo DS to see that movie and it was actually pretty good. Much better than most movies aimed for kids.