Train time! - Page 2

[lovemy4boys]

Violet_

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[marybethorama]

I don't know

I had a bad experience with a child-hating conductor on Amtrak so I hate them on principle but since the other staff were fine, I might be okay.

For a short trip too, it would probably be okay

[Tigerchild]

Do you think your child is ready?

What is the chaperone like? Are they dedicated to your kid exclusively, will be with them constantly, or is it like an occasional peek in (kind of like the old 'chaperoning' of unaccompanied children on airplanes)?

Do the chaperones have criminal background check/are you allowed to meet them first to see if they give you the willies?

I could see some 8 year olds being ready to do that. But not all. I'm sure that there are some 14 year olds that aren't quite ready.

If you do let him go, I like the idea of his own cell phone, and you going with him the first time, personally I think it'd be worth the cost (though I agree going EVERY time would be prohibitive).

[OhDang]

It depends. They do supposably watch out for the younger kids, but there are some REAL weird people on those trains. I rode amtrak for 4,5,6 hours back and forth all the time when i was about 16 and i always had strange men staring at me, very creepy.

[kblackstone444]

No way, no how. The train conductors and ticket takers have their own jobs to do. Many, probably most, are very nice and do keep an extra eye out for young children traveling by themselves, but they also need to be walking up and down the train, in the different train cars doing their jobs, so your child would be alone in a car with strangers, even when the train is stopped for passengers to get on and off. And what happens if your child gets off at the wrong stop or, if for some reason his Dad isn't there to pick him up (flat tire, traffic, car accident, etc.)?

[attachedmomto3]

i could never do it. just my humble opinion. i'm too nervous for that or even on a plane.

[pigpokey]

Originally Posted by redebeth

I don't know. Is it wrong to trust a major corporation with my precious child? You can trust them, right? Okay, just kidding. I'm at a loss because I agree with everyone here.

Yes, but it's not wrong to trust your child with himself, if he's ready. I'm at a loss as to why moms of today think our kids can't do what we did WITHOUT CELL PHONES. He doesn't even have to have one but the fact that you probably do makes all the difference. Heck, if I was out in the world and my mom was out in the world there was no way to reach her even if I went to a pay phone or got a shopkeeper to let me use his phone. How did I survive?

I mean come on, he gets off at the wrong station. At a loss for the crisis there. Kinda a pain but if he's properly learned he'll just go tell the Amtrak people he's in the wrong place. Given that all parents have cell phones there is just no real problem.

[Kessed]

I would go with him the first time.

Then I would write out a 'plan' with him. Get him to help you describe the route so he knows what order things come in. Like "First we went throught the town with a green station - then we went over the bridge"... Something that he could refer to to assure himself that he hadn't missed his stop.

I would also go over what he should do if he got off at the wrong stop.

I used to take the bus home from school (public transit - so no chaperone) at that age. I had to make 1 change. And my parents went over with me what I should do if I missed my stop. In my case - since it looped through the neighborhood - I should wait until the close part of the return loop. And if I 'really' missed my stop - I should stay on the bus until it reached the mall at the end of the route and call on a pay phone rather than getting off in a different neighborhood and trying to walk home.

I would also go over with him what he should do if he's being 'bothered' by a stranger. That he shouldn't do something like try to hide by going to the 'bathroom' where he could be followed - but instead move closer to other passengers.

I would totally let an 8yo ride a train. But I would want that kid to be prepared.

[a(TM)?Star]

No, I wouldn't. To me, 40 minutes isn't that long, I would take the ride with him, and then go back home.

[redebeth]

Thanks for all the support! This summer we will practice together, two or three times, and then he can go solo if he is ready. Like I said previously, I would love to do this with him, but it is too much money to spend on a regular basis.

It will be a big step, but I think in the end it will be great for both of us.

[phathui5]

Chaperoned by who?