You didn't miss anything! It's in its infancy still, so I'm not telling many people yet. It's a different sort of project than the last one, which I'd sold as a proposal prior to writing. This time, I'm writing the whole thing in hopes of getting it published—a different approach (and a bit more nerve-wracking!).
After reading this, I walked to a bakery about two blocks from my house. I was delighted to follow four kids, who were definitely under the age of 10, with no adult in sight. This is one of the main reasons we choose to live in a city neighborhood with a "walk score" of 98. The only thing I do worry about is cars not stopping/seeing shorter people and e-bikes on sidewalks.
I also think the helicopter parenting trend is mostly an affluent parent problem, at least where I live. This makes the issue even more ridiculous, because well off people tend to live in safer areas, which really makes me wish people would turn off the 24 hour news and just live.
I also find it delightful to see young kids wandering on their own. I often think about how much they're probably enjoying it! I agree with you completely that cars are a primary threat, which is why I've spent so much time talking about traffic safety with my kids. But there comes a point where you just have to let them go and hope everything goes well. Otherwise, they miss out on too much.
New manuscript?!? Did I miss you announcing what it will be?
You didn't miss anything! It's in its infancy still, so I'm not telling many people yet. It's a different sort of project than the last one, which I'd sold as a proposal prior to writing. This time, I'm writing the whole thing in hopes of getting it published—a different approach (and a bit more nerve-wracking!).
After reading this, I walked to a bakery about two blocks from my house. I was delighted to follow four kids, who were definitely under the age of 10, with no adult in sight. This is one of the main reasons we choose to live in a city neighborhood with a "walk score" of 98. The only thing I do worry about is cars not stopping/seeing shorter people and e-bikes on sidewalks.
I also think the helicopter parenting trend is mostly an affluent parent problem, at least where I live. This makes the issue even more ridiculous, because well off people tend to live in safer areas, which really makes me wish people would turn off the 24 hour news and just live.
I also find it delightful to see young kids wandering on their own. I often think about how much they're probably enjoying it! I agree with you completely that cars are a primary threat, which is why I've spent so much time talking about traffic safety with my kids. But there comes a point where you just have to let them go and hope everything goes well. Otherwise, they miss out on too much.