Am I stifling my 11 year old daughter in middle school?

My daughter started middle school today. It is in an urban area, and violence there is well-known. Even though strict no violence policies are implemented, the gangs of kids last year congregate on my street (I live three blocks away), and routinely have beatings of younger and more vulnerable children.

While I am all for my daughter's independence, I am worried that one day she will be the target. Today, I walked her to school, and picked her up. My husband says I am being overprotective and paranoid. I say I am simply protecting my daughter.

I know fights in school happen...but all I am doing is protecting her on her way to and from school.

What is your opinion?

Answers:
I'd be walking her too. You know the area isn't safe. And it helps you both if you walk her. What if she's scared to walk those 3 blocks, but doesn't want to tell you? What if something did happen? Its better for her to get a bit of teasing than to be hurt or killed by a gang within blocks of her house and school. It also gives her a way to play you as the bad guy without making her look like a baby. My Mom always told us we could use her as a scapegoat if it helped us to keep from bending to peer pressure. (As in, I can't do that cause my Mom would kill me! Or I gotta be home early tonight or my Mom will call the cops to find me. Anything that helped us get out of a bad or scary situation without having to straight out tell the other person they scared us). Sometimes being walked is alot better than letting them take chances.

If you don't feel the neighborhood is safe then don't let her go alone.

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Am I stifling my 11 year old daughter in middle school?

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