“When I was 10,” my Mom told me recently, “I used to take the streetcar downtown by myself and meet my mother for lunch.  My friend used to go downtown to shop for clothes for her family.”

I thought back to when I was 10.  I would ride my bike or walk with my friends up to Krummenacher Pharmacy or Magic Market which was about a half mile away.  We’d go inside, buy our snacks, and head home or to a friend’s house. 

Most people my age have similar stories.  We were told to be back by the time the streetlights went on, but we were free to roam during the day.  Our bikes took us anywhere we wanted to go.  Back then, our parents probably thought they were being overprotective by not permitting us to take the bus.  

My kids are nearly ten.  My street is a half mile long.  Not long ago, I watched as a police officer saw two kids in the neighborhood on a walk.  He stopped them to find out where they lived, then went to tell their mother that they shouldn’t be this far down the street by themselves. 

In this day and age, we are conditioned to think that we can’t be too careful.  We try to protect our children, but we are slowly learning that bad things can happen anywhere.  Does this mean kids shouldn’t leave the house?  I don’t think so. 

There’s something to developing a sense of freedom as a child that builds up self confidence and self esteem.  We live in a world today where exploration is nonexistent and where many kids don’t even know how to play outside.   I worry that, in a day where children aren’t even allowed to hang out on their own street, we’ve lost our way. 

No one wants to be the parent that did something wrong.  We pass judgment on these people.  But perhaps it’s time to look at the bigger picture and pass judgment on ourselves as a society for not allowing kids to be kids. 

Perhaps it’s time to revisit what it really means to be 10.