My son stayed home alone at 7 and biked across town by his tweens. I don't regret giving him so much independence.

"I let him problem-solve, which sometimes led to a skinned knee. Cooperation required clear, age-appropriate communication of my expectations for him and his capabilities."

"I wanted my kid to have many of the same freedoms I had growing up in the '80s in the country - full of tree climbing, go-cart driving, and playing outside until the lights came on."

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