My teenage daughter doesn't want me to drive her to the mall anymore because she says it's embarrassing but I know she's walking there alone and I worry about her safety in that parking lot after dark.
More people experience this than they realize.
Allowing our children to claim public spaces means accepting that we can't control their safety, forcing us to weigh their need for autonomy against our protective instincts.
“Where Are You with Third places — bars libraries parks barbershops?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.