Anonymous
Post 10/31/2012 14:28     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:I'm going to be a big ol' contrarian here and say it shouldn't be such a big deal. I see kids on the metro all the time, and I frequently ride at odd hours. Maybe pick him up from the metro at night.


Me too. Of course, my 13 yo wouldn't be out until midnight, metro or not, so I can't comment on that. But 9:00 pm? Assuming a normal level of maturity? Sure.

Anonymous
Post 10/31/2012 14:27     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
How far do you live from the FH metro? I find that area to be pretty safe at night when I am walking alone. I would say it's probably safe to have him taking the train up until 7:30 or 8 pm, while there are plenty of people travelling home from work and the trains run relatively frequently.

You know your kid though, and whether or not he'll get lost or whatever because he's just not paying attention.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2012 14:23     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:13:31 may not be politically correct, but she's not crazy.
I wouldn't let my teenager go alone through the Gallery Place metro area after 7 PM either, especially in the summer. She's right---just too much foolishness.
Yeah, I was a pp who mentioned caution about GP earlier. Good to be careful. But that pp's way of describing the "problem" is just too over-the-top.


You know what? White people are afraid to say what I have been saying for fear of sounding racist, and AA folks, well, I'm not sure. Maybe we think it, but are "embarressed" about talking about our own people in "mixed company", well I DON'T CARE. These young blacks are OUT OF CONTROL. If you look at them "wrong", they want to cuss you out, if you say "excuse me" because you want to get by them on the escalator because they are standing on the wrong dang side, you may just get beat down. I'm frustrated, I'm tired, I'm sad, because they just don't seem to care, and I'm ashamed of their ignorance, their rudeness, etc.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2012 14:06     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:13:31 may not be politically correct, but she's not crazy.
I wouldn't let my teenager go alone through the Gallery Place metro area after 7 PM either, especially in the summer. She's right---just too much foolishness.
Yeah, I was a pp who mentioned caution about GP earlier. Good to be careful. But that pp's way of describing the "problem" is just too over-the-top.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2012 13:39     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
13:31 may not be politically correct, but she's not crazy.
I wouldn't let my teenager go alone through the Gallery Place metro area after 7 PM either, especially in the summer. She's right---just too much foolishness.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2012 13:31     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP, also after about 7pm Metro is off-limits while she DD is alone. Like another poster stated, the trains do start emptying out of professional people and a different "quality" of folks are on the trains at that time.


Are you kidding? Do you say such horrible things around your child? I would be way more afraid of my child spending time with you, and having that attitude rub off, than taking the metro.


Yes, I do say those things around my DD. I am an AA mom and I know that after a certain hour the trains are filled with the N*%!AS!!! Our main train stops are Gallery Place...Filled with young N*%!AS, Shaw Howard....filled with young N*%!AS, Petworth...filled with young N*%!AS, and I could go on and on. Granted there are many nice people of all races that take the trains in this city at all hours of the day and night, but I'm not fooling myself. I know how MY people are and I'm not going to have my DD be an easy target for them. Not only do you have to deal with the bad kids, but you also have to deal with those that have mental issues.

We don't live in fear, but I do teach her to be smart.
You suck! And I'm AA if that matters.


Yes, I may suck, but I do my best to keep my DD out of harms way. Don't sit here and tell me that as an AA you don't get tired of the foolishness. I do. The robberies..THEM, the murders..THEM, beating people to unconciousness for a dang iphone...THEM!! Most of the crimes that happen in this city are THEM. I am so sick and tired of THEM. I'm not leaving the city either. I just bought a home here, and I'm staying put.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2012 12:33     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP, also after about 7pm Metro is off-limits while she DD is alone. Like another poster stated, the trains do start emptying out of professional people and a different "quality" of folks are on the trains at that time.


Are you kidding? Do you say such horrible things around your child? I would be way more afraid of my child spending time with you, and having that attitude rub off, than taking the metro.


Yes, I do say those things around my DD. I am an AA mom and I know that after a certain hour the trains are filled with the N*%!AS!!! Our main train stops are Gallery Place...Filled with young N*%!AS, Shaw Howard....filled with young N*%!AS, Petworth...filled with young N*%!AS, and I could go on and on. Granted there are many nice people of all races that take the trains in this city at all hours of the day and night, but I'm not fooling myself. I know how MY people are and I'm not going to have my DD be an easy target for them. Not only do you have to deal with the bad kids, but you also have to deal with those that have mental issues.

We don't live in fear, but I do teach her to be smart.
You suck! And I'm AA if that matters.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2012 12:28     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
Get him a safety whistle or alarm. Make sure he keeps his cell phone charged. Do the route with him a couple of times, and then let him try it on his own. I would be okay with it, unless he'd be getting home after 8. The metro is still pretty busy at that time. If he said he was uncomfortable at any point, I'd just drive him.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2012 12:21     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP, also after about 7pm Metro is off-limits while she DD is alone. Like another poster stated, the trains do start emptying out of professional people and a different "quality" of folks are on the trains at that time.


Are you kidding? Do you say such horrible things around your child? I would be way more afraid of my child spending time with you, and having that attitude rub off, than taking the metro.


Yes, I do say those things around my DD. I am an AA mom and I know that after a certain hour the trains are filled with the N*%!AS!!! Our main train stops are Gallery Place...Filled with young N*%!AS, Shaw Howard....filled with young N*%!AS, Petworth...filled with young N*%!AS, and I could go on and on. Granted there are many nice people of all races that take the trains in this city at all hours of the day and night, but I'm not fooling myself. I know how MY people are and I'm not going to have my DD be an easy target for them. Not only do you have to deal with the bad kids, but you also have to deal with those that have mental issues.

We don't live in fear, but I do teach her to be smart.


Holy shit.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2012 12:18     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP, also after about 7pm Metro is off-limits while she DD is alone. Like another poster stated, the trains do start emptying out of professional people and a different "quality" of folks are on the trains at that time.


Are you kidding? Do you say such horrible things around your child? I would be way more afraid of my child spending time with you, and having that attitude rub off, than taking the metro.


Yes, I do say those things around my DD. I am an AA mom and I know that after a certain hour the trains are filled with the N*%!AS!!! Our main train stops are Gallery Place...Filled with young N*%!AS, Shaw Howard....filled with young N*%!AS, Petworth...filled with young N*%!AS, and I could go on and on. Granted there are many nice people of all races that take the trains in this city at all hours of the day and night, but I'm not fooling myself. I know how MY people are and I'm not going to have my DD be an easy target for them. Not only do you have to deal with the bad kids, but you also have to deal with those that have mental issues.

We don't live in fear, but I do teach her to be smart.
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2012 16:16     Subject: Re:13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Having a kid that age out neil 7 on school night on regular basis seems like an over scheduled kid. Kids that age should be at home having dinner and finishing up homework by 7 at the latest. Somethings gotta give. Alexandria is too far away to be from FH at that hour for a middle schooler.


Finishing up homework by 7pm? A 7th or 8th grader? Not in our universe. Try finishing up around 9 on a good night.


Actually yeah, I know--I meant they should at least be home by then to finish up homework by 7. Yes, I had 7th grader and it is rare that he goes past 7--but he's home by 3:45--he walks home, btw.


OP here, Did your 7th grader play sports or have involvement in the arts? I wouldn't rule out those things for a child because of an arbirtrary rule about what time they should be done with homework.

My kid gets off the bus at 3:00 some days, take the dog on a long leisurely walk, and is done with homework including working ahead by 7. Other days he has afterschool activities. There's room for both.
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2012 14:29     Subject: Re:13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Having a kid that age out neil 7 on school night on regular basis seems like an over scheduled kid. Kids that age should be at home having dinner and finishing up homework by 7 at the latest. Somethings gotta give. Alexandria is too far away to be from FH at that hour for a middle schooler.


Finishing up homework by 7pm? A 7th or 8th grader? Not in our universe. Try finishing up around 9 on a good night.


Actually yeah, I know--I meant they should at least be home by then to finish up homework by 7. Yes, I had 7th grader and it is rare that he goes past 7--but he's home by 3:45--he walks home, btw.
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2012 14:17     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP, also after about 7pm Metro is off-limits while she DD is alone. Like another poster stated, the trains do start emptying out of professional people and a different "quality" of folks are on the trains at that time.


Are you kidding? Do you say such horrible things around your child? I would be way more afraid of my child spending time with you, and having that attitude rub off, than taking the metro.


+1. Not everyone who doesn't work a 9-5 is bad, unsafe or sketchy. There are so many jobs that let out at different hours. And people going out to dinner. Or happy hour. Or shows. It is just absurd to think 7:00 is some cutoff time after which only the riff-raff are aboard wmata.

I am a pp who initially advocated for the child's ability to do this.
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2012 14:04     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:PP, also after about 7pm Metro is off-limits while she DD is alone. Like another poster stated, the trains do start emptying out of professional people and a different "quality" of folks are on the trains at that time.


Are you kidding? Do you say such horrible things around your child? I would be way more afraid of my child spending time with you, and having that attitude rub off, than taking the metro.
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2012 14:00     Subject: 13 year old on the metro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow. I'm surprised at all of these responses - NP here. How far are you from FH metro? If anything pick him up There, although that is highly unnecessary to me. Though I am also a new yorker who began riding the bus and train by myself at 10 or 11 and by 13 I was going an hour each way on two different trains.

The trains are NOT deserted after rush hour (these posters just probably don't ride enough to know). You can tell him to avoid the first and last car, which are less full. Teach him exactly how to go and hell be fine.

I cannot believe how over-sheltered children are now. How on earth do you expect them to become self-sufficient?


I agree. I'm still in my 20s and was on the Metro here in DC going everywhere alone at 13. I still see kids around that age alone and they don't stick out. Unless your son is impressionable, he should be fine. I can totally see picking him up from FH metro in the evening if that makes you feel better.


I was actually really impressed with how many parents on this board are ok with this. I have gotten dirty looks from other parents in our MD suburb for letting my 10-year-old ride public transportation (only short trips at this point, no transfers). So good to know not all DC-area parents are that paranoid. I think it depends a lot on the individual child. Also personally I would not introduce so many new variables (darkness, transfers) without doing the trip together several times, both for him to become familiar with the route and for you to see for yourself what the metro passengers are like at that hour.