>>I have two boys. If I'd had girls with equal levels of maturity and intelligence, I'd have given them the same freedom. My kids were given increasing freedom and responsibility as they grew, with the goal that by the time they left my home for college at 18, they'd be able to handle the responsibility that came with living away from home.
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>Being ready to leave home at 18 is not the same as going to the mall unattended at 12.
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>>Perhaps my kids are special. (_I_ certainly think so. <bg>) But what we did worked quite well. They're 25 and 22 now, responsible, mature, independent in many ways (both still in school, so not yet fully financially independent). People reasonably rely on them.
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>I wonder how much has to do with the neighborhood they grew up in. You said elsewhere that you were raised in a nice area and I'll go out on a limb and say that your children had the same environment. I still think 12 is way too young to be out alone, but the neighborhood matters.
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>>What we did also worked in terms of building good relationships. Both call when they need information or guidance, and listen to our advice. (Nathaniel, the 22-year-old, called from Manhattan a few weeks back for the "Mom-ernet." <g> Could I help him find a coffee shop near Washington Square?)
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>You sure he's independent?

Google:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=coffee+shop&near=Washington+Square,+2+5th+Ave,+New+York,+NY&fb=1&view=text&sa=X&oi=local_group&resnum=1&ct=more-results&cd=1

<bg>