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misswallo
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| Posted: Sept 14 2010 at 2:39pm | IP Logged
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To all you mothers out there who have older children- what age do you think is appropriate for childrne to go the movies by themselves. My oldest, 11yrs, has a friend who has plans this weekend to go the movies with a group of girls and boys. I think 11 is way too young for this, am I being too protective. I especially think the fact that boys will be there puts them in a situation that they are too immature to handle. What do you all think?
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Sept 14 2010 at 2:50pm | IP Logged
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Our oldest was allowed to go with one friend (female) for the first time for her 13th birthday (friend took her as her gift).
The main problem I really have is that it's difficult to impossible to preview movies.. though we have a late run theatre so I do have time to get reviews from others.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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-Sir Walter Scott
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sewcrazy
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| Posted: Sept 14 2010 at 2:54pm | IP Logged
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I am probably one of the more "laxed" parents on this board  and no way would I allow an 11 yog at the movies, especially a co-ed group! My boys were 14 before we allowed that type of outing. No way I would let my 11 dd at the movies without a trusted adult. Things happen that a pre-teen is not equipped to cope with yet.
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LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Sept 14 2010 at 2:59pm | IP Logged
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I came back to say.. this is a small town and while things do still happen.. it's a much safer environment for allowing kids to do things on their own than it would be in other larger towns and cities.. just so you know where I'm coming from.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Lisbet
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| Posted: Sept 14 2010 at 3:05pm | IP Logged
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Nope, no way, eh-uh. I wouldn't. My 15 year old just started doing this with a group. All of us parents came to a consensus that it was too hard to preview the movies, trailers, environment, etc... so we opted for them to have bonfires in one anothers back yards with music, volleyball, munchies, and most importantly, parents! LOL!
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Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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misswallo
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| Posted: Sept 14 2010 at 3:12pm | IP Logged
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Thanks ladies..sometimes a mom just needs affirmation that she's not crazy. I really couldn't believe it when my dd told me about her friends plans. I'm thankful for the advice/ideas I get from this group. 
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Mimip
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| Posted: Sept 14 2010 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
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I just had to pipe in and LOL! There is no way that I would allow my 11 year old out without parents with a co-ed group.
I had to smile when I read Jodie's response because I know she is from a small town. My children in urban south Florida might go out by themselves sometime around 20  !
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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MicheleQ
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| Posted: Sept 14 2010 at 8:43pm | IP Logged
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I too think 11 is way too young.
Another thing to consider is that even if the movie chosen is OK, often the previews that are shown before are awful!
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Michele Quigley
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Sept 14 2010 at 9:38pm | IP Logged
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11 is too young. My daughter will be 13 next month and I don't allow her to go w/out a trustworthy adult.
I can't remember what age my older two were when I allowed them to go w/ friends...telling my age here.
But my 17 yr old started going w/ friends when he began driving so I guess that's been almost a year.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
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hylabrook1
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A lot depends on where the movie is showing - is the theater in a questionable area? what time is the show? things like that. Some of my dc have gone without me at 12, but that was generally with a large group of mixed ages, rules spelled out for everyone (don't go anywhere other than the theater, buddy system for snack bar and bathroom runs, etc.) More typically, though, with just one or two friends, we haven't allowed *kids only* until 13 or 14. One compromise sort of arrangement we've made is that the parent who drives them to the movies also watches the show but doesn't sit with the kids, pretends she's just there on her own, but is, of course, the safety net.
Peace,
Nancy
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stacykay
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| Posted: Sept 15 2010 at 8:17am | IP Logged
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My boys started going to movies with friends about age 15 or 16, and we drove and picked up. We also had movie "approval" power.
The only time I ever relaxed this rule was when my "bff" who I really think of as a sister, and her family, visited from FL last summer. She has two sons who are same age as two of my sons and they are great friends. We drove the four of them to the movies (two were 14 and two were 11,) and we went to a nearby (across the street) Tim Horton's, drinking coffee and talking, until it was time to go back and get them. They had cell phones and strict instructions on behavior. Since then, neither of those sons has gone to a movie without us.
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: out without parents
