As my daughters prepared to return to school last January, I reviewed our schedule. My fourth grader and kindergartener were signed up for the swim team for the first time. To get them to the practices three afternoons a week, I would need to stop working about an hour earlier than usual. It wasn't ideal. Then I thought, 'Why can't they just walk?' The pool was on a college campus, only three blocks away from their school.
My husband was hesitant, but the girls were immediately excited. I was immediately set on the idea, but my husband wasn't so sure. Like me, he didn't have any safety concerns; he was just worried about what other people would think. He worried that our 9-year-old would be fine, but our 5-year-old might cause trouble.
With my husband on board, I talked with my daughters. They were immediately excited about the idea. They love going places directly after school, and the novelty of a walk with no adults was appealing. Eventually I told the school the girls would be 'walkers.' I prepared for questions or pushback but didn't get any.
Before the girls started walking, we went over logistics. We mapped the possible routes, and when the girls chose one that I wouldn't have selected, I had to bite my tongue - it was up to them to decide. I had to trust their judgment while also ensuring they were safe.
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