I definitely agree that we live in a time where parents are petrified to let their children be children. Statistically our children are much more likely to die in a car accident while we drive them everywhere than they are to meet with "stranger danger". Many parents secretly feel they are "better" parents if they are overprotective than those who are more logical (for lack of a better word). Of course a mature 9 year old can take public transportation for goodness sakes! But naturally use common sense and make sure that you know your child's abilities and that you have proper safeguards in place. For example, consider where your child is going and the time your child is taking public transit. I know parents who even prefer to drive their teenagers to school rather than let them take (god forbid) public transportation. Goodness, what message is that sending them? The more independence you can give your child, the healthier emotionally and physically they will be. Can bad things happen? Of course. I could walk outside tomorrow and be hit by a car. But I cannot live my life thinking about the what ifs, and we should not teach our children to live that way either. It is crippling to do so. Our job as parents is to give our children wings not to clip them or to make them fearful.