Am I wrong for not letting my 8 yr old fly...ALONE?

Of course your not wrong. Dad is being a little selfish and only thinking about himself. He needs to keep his little girl in mind and put out of his mind that the drive is too long. The drive may be long but it should be well worth it for him so he can see her. If he wants her to take a plane instead than he should fly there to get her and than fly back with her. It would be different if your daughter was a teenager and could take care of herself. I know if i was 8 years old and on a plane alone I would be frightened. I think it's absurd that your ex would even suggest this. I think a court would agree as well. ANd you are not being over protective, any parent who has a shred of common sense would think that the whole idea of an 8 year old, by herself on a plane is just crazy.. hopefully your ex will come to his senses and see it how you see it

I wouldn't. Right now my daughter is only 4. But the 1st time I flew alone I was 14. And nowadays even that may not be safe. PEOPLE are crazy, I agree with you. Probably isn't good enough. Sorry. You'd have to give me a definetly with 100% Mom satisfaction guarantee. Why don't you see if you all can compromise. Meet 1/2 way. That seems fair to me.

If I'm on your shoe I will not let her also. She is so young to fly alone, accepting that were over protective they but come to think of it how if something might happen who will take care of her the stewardes of course not. Were just doing our purpose to be a mother to our children don't he think that your not complaining driving her 4 hour just to them when she is old enough to take care of her self that is the time I will allow her to go by her self as a mother you know your child capabilities always look forward and a little talk (explanation) will help for both of you. Don't think your wrong your just doing the right thing.....

we have stepchildren and they have been flying since they were 7 or 8 alone but there are two of them and one is a couple of years older and they are very responsible and independent and like to fly. We always get them an escort but you have to pay for it through the airlines. I think it is $99 and they usually require it for kids under 13. The person takes them from the plane to you and I think it is worth it and your husband should pay the extra. Some airlines will let the parent only go to the gate, but most will not do that anymore. I personally would never let my daughter fly alone - I had an adult friend who was sitting next to a guy and he tried to fondle her! I think meeting 1/2 way is fair and he needs to just get over it because it makes you uncomfortable. Guys don't always think about all the creepy guys in this world.

I agree with you 100% that she should not fly alone.There are many disadvantages of a child that young flying by herself on a plane. First there is the age; than if she gets sick; there would be no one to take care of her. Secondly ; if all of a suddenly she gets fly frighten; what are they going to do ? Turn the plane around to let her get off? Thirdly; a chance of her sitting next to a predator who feels like filling her ears with stuff she's not suppose to hear. Can't go on a " probably " be safe; it has to be a sure thing.In this case you have to be over protective because there is just too much going on in the world today to even consider taking a risk like that. I know I would never send my child off on a plane or bus alone, I feel it's not worth it.To some people it's fine. But sometimes you have to really weigh the situation in order to feel better about the whole thing.You are not wrong. Stand on your ground !!!!

At that age I would not put my child on a plain by herself. That is just me. I have a friend that has been doing that with her son for a few years and he is now 10. It just depends on the parent. As for who would take care of her that would be the job of the stewdess. She would take care of her throughout the flight.

My son will be 9 soon and there is no way that I would let him fly alone. People who allow their young kids to do so are crazy! I can just imagine how panicked he would be if something were to happen.

No you are not wrong, you are very correct and sensible. You see anything can happen anytime so why risk something that is invaluable to you? If suppose you had a vary valuable and costly gemstone or something like that, would you ever let it lose, open, among strangers? So why your daughter specially when human life and dignity is indispensable & invaluable? And (God forbid) if something does ever happen the loss will be yours all the more coz you are the mother. So cling on to your princess till you are absolutely sure that she can take care of herself reallly well and dont lend a ear to who says what.

I know a lot of parents do this kind of thing with their kids, leaving it up to the airline stewardess to watch over them. But who cares what they do; your right it won't be your child! Father dear is not thinking clearly or he is so focused on what is best for him he is forgetting what is best for his little girl! Maybe all you need to do is remind him of the horrors your little girl could face alone on an airplane. Did he not see the news last week when a women was molested. h here is one more to the point...http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=3637 ,,,, this are the situaions that can so easily and quickly happen. We do not take chances with our childs life if we can help it.

I would feel the same way like you do.You got all the sensible reason a mother have.Yes, the world is not safer as it seems we thought a thousand years ago.I don't blame you.You're not only a protective Mom...you're a good and loving Mom!!! And the probably to anything in life is dangerous these days.Don't let your child fly on her own!I was reminded of my mother saying to me, the more you shortcut in life, the more harm and danger you put yourself, as that path have uncertainty!Very applicable to your situation!

Way too young!! She could get lost,scared,pannic,kidnapped anything and you wouldnt even know until the plane has landed,then she could wonder off looking for someone in the airport..airports can be huge.. Ild rather spend the 4 hours knowing shes safe,looked after and cared for instead of alone,noone looking out for her,strangers talking to her. Maybe im protective but i certainly wouldnt allow it.

'Probably' doesn't even come close to being acceptable to me. I wouldn't do it, no way, no how. I say the inconvenience of the drive is worth knowing that she is safe and cared for. I would tell him, no, if you want to see her you will come and pick her up the way we have always done it. I know it's important to spend time with her dad and his family, but it's more important that she is safe.

No way would I ever put my 8 year old on a plane alone. I have a 10 month old right now and she better not even ask, or her father or anyone else on this green earth. I have been on planes where there are children travelling alone and I hear the airlines promising the worried parents, don't worry I'll take good care of her. But we do not live in a movie. And if there were any type of violence on that plane I hardly doubt a stewardness making a little over minimum wage is going to jump in front of a bullet for your child. Also, I have seen kids wander away once arrived at the airport and they become lost. They were found of course, but still. Thirdly, people ARE crazy. There are more crazy people out there than you think! Just kidding. I have a Sociology degree...I've studied human behaviour, past, present...The most disturbing thing I learned is that most serial killers were people who had money (not aLOT of money but they were doing okay), and they were SMART. VERY SMART. I would never in this world ever steal a child or harm a child, but, it wouldn't be that hard to steal a child from an airport or even right off that plane. "Homeland security" is not as good as it was before 9/11 in my opinion. Anyhow, DAd is being selfish. Tell him to grow up, suck it up, drive the four hours, keep his daughter safe. Convenience walks out the door when that baby walks in.

I'm from the UK and most airlines will not allow an unaccompanied child under the age of 16 fly alone. I certainly would not let my child fly on their own. He he doesn't want the drive he'll have to book a return flight and collect and fly back with or do the drive

Call me overprotective, but I would not let my child fly alone. People are so untrustworthy. Also, 8 is a little young to fly alone. In my state she could not legally stay home alone yet.

I work at a major airport, so here is my advice. Is it a direct flight? If so, list her as an unaccompanied minor. It might cost a little extra (make him pay it), but you can walk her to the gate, per TSA guidelines. An airline employee will meet you there and take her onto the plane. At her destination, an airline employee will take her off and check the id of the person picking her up, who will be allowed to the gate to meet her. I would let my kids fly under those circumstances. HOWEVER - if there is a connection or plane change, then under no circumstances would I let my kid fly. You're depending on a stranger to escort your daughter through an airport. I have worked too many cases of 'escorted' passengers that have been lost by airline employees. Direct flight, yes. Plane change or layover - no way!

I don't think you are crazy... but i think your husband is definitely crazy... an 8 year old travelling alone in a plane is a no no for all families... maybe if she is like a teenager and can handle herself independently then let... but for now, the 4 hour drive will do... don't listen to your husband... follow what your motherly instinct says... or better yet why not just ask him to go to your daughter instead...

I wouldn't do it either. I know they have special arrangements for unaccompanied minors but there are too many what ifs. I'd hold off on that one till she's in her teens or so... IMO he needs to drive her back. It's only 4 hours. My brother has to drive 10 just to see his son.

I don't think you are wrong at all. I wouldn't let my daughter go even if she was twelve. That is your baby, your precious cargo, and you are right, if god forbid something were to happen the first thing on your mind if you were ther would of course be her, even before yourself. No one other than yourself has that, its a motherly instinct to protect their children.. Besides you would probably make yourself ill with worry about it...

JaLuvYa, You are not wrong at all. It is absolutely fine to be worried about your baby. She is way too young to be on a plane by herself. I totally agree with you.People are really really crazy especially with the kind of things happening these days. Her father has to understand this. And moreover he himself is not very sure if your baby girl will be safe and that is why he uses the term "probably". Somehow I feel men are always insensitive to these kind of issues and just want their kids to be brave and all that stuff. Your second concern is also absolutely justified. There is no body and I mean no body who will come to your rescue during difficult times. It is our sole responsiblity to take care of our precious possessions that God gifts us with. God bless you and your princess.