In an age where helicopter parenting is the norm, one mother is stirring up a bit of controversy by allowing her nine-year-old son to bike to school alone.
As the morning rush hits the playground, Rachel Brydon’s parenting methods have no doubt raised a few eyebrows for allowing Freddie to make the 0.6 mile journey to school without the watchful eye of an adult.
The 44-year-old single mother She is known for her attachment parenting approach to her only child, which emphasizes close emotional bonds but also empowers children with essential life skills.
Brydon told MailOnline: ‘I’m a very attachment parent, but also very conscious of the decisions I make.
‘I wanted to give Freddie the skills and resources to make good decisions, both now and as an adult.’
Rachel Brydon’s parenting methods have no doubt raised some eyebrows for allowing Freddie to make the 0.6 mile journey to school without the watchful eye of an adult.
Nine-year-old Freddie pictured with his bike outside the school.
The 44-year-old single mother is known for her attachment parenting approach with her only son, which emphasizes close emotional bonds but also empowers children with essential life skills.
Her parenting philosophy is based on her personal observations that many children lack basic life skills.
“I saw a lot of kids who couldn’t even talk in stores or order in restaurants,” Brydon said.
‘These observations informed my decisions to prepare Freddie for proper integration into society.’
A key component of this preparation is building confidence and resilience. Brydon argues that children need to make mistakes in order to develop resilience.
She explained: ‘Typically, when children start seventh grade and experience freedom for the first time, many struggle because they never had the opportunity to develop those skills before.
“I wanted to make sure Freddie had a safe opportunity for freedom long before he got to that stage.”
In fourth grade, Freddie was not allowed to ride his bike home from school alone, despite his mother’s repeated requests.
However, Brydon was undaunted and found a solution.
Freddie rode his bike to school alone, but needed Brydon to be present when he picked him up.
So she would arrive early, unlock the bike, hand over the bike and house keys at the school gate, and then wave to him as he walked off ahead of her (literally, showing his face to the school).
Rachel’s parenting philosophy is based on her personal observations that many children lack basic life skills.
In fourth grade, Freddie was not allowed to bike home from school alone, despite his mother’s repeated requests.
The mother of one of the children said: ‘It took about three or four minutes to get home.
“I wasn’t angry with the school[for not allowing him to go home alone in Year 4]- I understood that he was a bit outside the mainstream. However, I managed to negotiate permission for him to go home alone in Year 5.”
To commemorate this important milestone together, the duo celebrated with hot chocolate at Starbucks, celebrating their newfound independence.
She said: “I’m looking forward to having a bit more freedom in terms of when I finish work and not having to turn off the laptop at 3 o’clock and pause my work early. But it’s also about building resilience and giving it opportunities.”
Despite skepticism from other parents, Brydon stands firm.
She explained: “Do I think all children should do it? Not straight away. Some children haven’t had the opportunity to develop the necessary competence and confidence.
‘Freddie can cook scrambled eggs and do many things because he has been given responsibilities in stages.’
Despite skepticism from other parents, Brydon remains adamant that his way of raising a child is the right one.
A young Freddie with his first bike. Brydon acknowledges that social media and increased awareness have made parents more eager to let their children out on their own
Brydon acknowledges that social media and increased awareness have made parents more anxious.
“We live in a time when there is less of a ‘village’ to support us. Parents see more risks online, even though fewer incidents actually occur,” she said.
Freddie’s cycling ability is also enhanced by his membership in a cycling club, further assuring Brydon that he is prepared.
His mother said: ‘I’ve heard comments like, ‘I couldn’t even trust him to open the door or make his own breakfast, let alone get to school by himself.’
“But I am confident in my choice.”
While Brydon’s approach may not be in line with conventional parenting practices, it reflects a broader shift toward encouraging independence. While continuing to advocate for a balanced approach to parenting, Brydon remains focused on giving Freddie the skills and confidence he needs to thrive.
Rachel Brydon runs a parenting tutoring company called Calm in the chaos.
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