In a time when helicopter parenting is the norm, one mother is causing some controversy by letting her nine-year-old son bike to school alone.
As they jog around the school yard in the morning, Rachel Brydon’s parenting methods have undoubtedly caused a stir, as she makes Freddie walk the 1,000-metre walk to school without the watchful eye of an adult.
The 44-year-old single mother is known for her approach to attachment parenting with her only child, which emphasizes close emotional bonds but also equips children with essential life skills.
Brydon told MailOnline: ‘I’m a very attachment parent, but I’m also very conscious of the decisions I make.
“I wanted to give Freddie the skills and tools to make good choices, both now and as an adult.”
Rachel Brydon’s parenting methods undoubtedly caused a bit of a stir, as she made Freddie make the 0.6 mile journey to school without the watchful eye of an adult.
Freddie, nine, here with his bike at the school gate.
The 44-year-old single mother is known for her attachment parenting approach with her only child, which emphasizes close emotional bonds but also equips 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 influenced my choices to prepare Freddie for a good integration into society.’
An important part of this preparation is building self-confidence and resilience. Brydon argues that children need to make mistakes to develop resilience.
She explains: ‘Normally, when children start in grade 7 and experience freedom for the first time, many encounter challenges because they have never had the opportunity to develop those skills before.
“I wanted to make sure Freddie had safe chances at freedom before he reached that stage.”
In the fourth grade, Freddie was not allowed to cycle home from school alone, despite repeated requests from his mother.
However, Brydon was not deterred and found a solution.
Freddie cycled to school alone, but needed Brydon to pick him up.
So she arrived early, unlocked his bike, left the bike and house keys at the school gate and waved to him as he rode home ahead of her. (She literally showed her face to the school.)
Rachel’s parenting philosophy is based on her personal observations that many children lack basic life skills
In the fourth grade, Freddie was not allowed to cycle home from school alone, despite repeated requests from his mother
The mother of one said: ‘It took about three to four minutes for him to get home.
‘I wasn’t angry at the school [for not allowing him to ride home alone in Year 4]; I understood that I was a bit out of the mainstream. However, I did manage to get permission to let him drive home alone in year 5.’
To celebrate this important milestone together, the duo celebrated their newfound independence with hot chocolate at Starbucks.
She said: ‘I’m looking forward to having a bit more freedom in terms of when I stop working, so I don’t have to close the laptop at 3 o’clock and stop working earlier. But it’s also about building resilience and giving opportunities.’
Despite skepticism from other parents, Brydon remains determined.
She explained: ‘Do I think all children should do it? Not right away. Some children have not had the opportunity to develop the necessary competence and confidence.
‘Freddie can make scrambled eggs and much more, because he has been given responsibilities in stages.’
Despite skepticism from other parents, Brydon remains adamant that her parenting is the right way to raise a child
A young Freddie with his first bike. Brydon acknowledges that social media and increased awareness have made parents more anxious about letting their children go out alone
Brydon acknowledges that parents have become more anxious due to social media and increased awareness.
“We live in an era where there is less of a ‘village’ to support us. Parents see more risks online, even though there are fewer incidents,” she said.
Freddie’s cycling skills are further enhanced by his membership of a cycling club, giving Brydon further confidence that he is well prepared.
His mother said: ‘I’ve had comments like, ‘I couldn’t even trust him to answer the door or get his own breakfast, let alone go to school by himself.’
“But I have confidence in my choice.”
While Brydon’s approach may not align with mainstream parenting practices, it reflects a broader shift toward fostering independence. While she continues 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 parent guidance company called Calm in the chaos.