Hi Folks! As you may or may not know, I give Free-Range Kids talks all over the place. This coming Tuesday, Oct. 9, I will be speaking at the Wellesley Mothers Forum in Wellesley, MA, at 8 p.m. Last week I was in Wyndham, NH, keynoting the New Hampshire Children in Nature Coalition — a great group of teachers, naturalists and government types dedicated to getting kids back outside, connecting with dirt, trees, bugs and everything else that kids have always (until just recently) connected with! Here’s a post-speech note I just got that made my day. – L
Lenore, it was great to meet you the other day at the conference in Wyndham. Thanks for helping change my perspective! My son is thankful too. Yesterday I let him bike to the ice cream place down the road from our house — by himself. He was thrilled! (And even returned 2 minutes early.) He will be walking to swim practice in the next couple of weeks as well.
I’ve been sharing this new understanding with anyone who will listen. The common response seems to be the same as mine: This makes so much sense. I’d been shifted into a state of fear due to the media. I’m so happy to give my children the opportunities for freedom that I had.
Thanks again. – K.
Lenore here: Thank YOU, K. For listening with an open mind and then opening up your son’s world!
Come back, kids!
4 Comments
Congratulations on “K” for the new perspective and allowing her child the freedom we enjoyed, and thanks, once again, Ms. Skenazy for being the tremendous help that you are for all parents and kids. Keep it up!
Lenore
You’re making a difference. It’s a very big difference.
It must be hard. You sometime receive nastigrams from frantic helicopter moms or ambushed by ratings grabbing TV hosts.
Remember that you are increasing the safety of children. That’s because pedophiles and bullies target the weak, frail, and the ones with the lowest self esteem. (bubble wrapped kids)
You’re doing more than helping families to allow their children to have a normal childhood. You’re allowing children the opportunity to develop their self esteem.
Always remind yourself this.
It is very freeing to allow kids to have some freedom. We went to the park on Friday afternoon, me and the five kids. The three older boys (9,7,6) rode their bikes and I walked with my 4-year-old while I pushed the 1-year-old in the stroller. When I’d had enough, I took the two younger ones and left with instructions that my boys had to come home in 20 minutes. My oldest has a watch and set his watch alarm. They came home right on time. It was nice that they didn’t have to come home because I wanted to leave (the wind and the cold were getting to me and my 1-year-old was getting fussy) and they know the rules well enough to be self-sufficient.
Even if it were just this one woman, Lenore, it would be such a gift to the world. And it’s not just this one woman. Thank you for being this voice for a generation. Sad that we needed one, but glorious that you are here.