A Little Bit of Responsibility

E has been asking if she can play out the front with the other kids for years. I always say no for many reasons. I'm not sure she's responsible enough yet, I'm terrified something might happen to her, what happens if she accidentally damages someone's plants or car, does she have the strength to stand up to her peers when she knows they're doing something she shouldn't.

I was saying all the above to my brother over the weekend and he reminded me that I can't make her mistakes for her, she needs to learn for herself. She could be changing schools in September and it would be better if we could spend the next 6 months gently preparing her for a little more responsibility than sending her out in the real world on her first day without ever having stepped foot outside the house without me.

We decided on 30 minutes with too many ground rules really but I needed them there or I would have bottled it and kept her in. Does this stuff get easier after your first? I mean there are other kids playing out that are 3 & 4 years old, scooting around and yet Im hesitating over my almost 9 year old. I wish I could protect her forever.

I sent her off for her 30 minutes, checking she had her watch and checking she knew where the hands needed to be at the end of the time. I watched her from the kitchen window like a hawk. She was on her own for the first 10, just standing there, not sure who to join in with but then later she latched on to some kids from school. They were younger than her, but she never minds that. I watched the clock with a knot in my stomach and to my surprise she came home bang on time. I was incredibly proud of her and it felt like a real achievement. Silly really for something so simple, but I know its the first of many steps for us.

When she got in E told me that one of the girls in M's class took the milk from the old lady's doorstep that the milkman had delivered and poured it all over the street. :( The knot is back. Why would someone do that? What will the lady think when she discovers her milk is gone? How will she get some more? What if she suspects E's involvement?

In other news, I've cut the lawn for the first time this year and cleared a few more bags of junk from my bedroom. Love this time of year.