On letting my son go alone on a field trip

One evening, as I put down my things coming from work, my 9 year old son handed me a letter from the school principal. It's a letter of invitation to parents to allow their children to join the field trip. The activity was optional but they highly encourage their students to participate to give them opportunity to learn and have fun in a new environment.

We have always been very supportive of our son's extra curricular activities. We believe that extracurricular activities are important in the development of his social skills, practical and logical thinking formation, and emotional maturity. We never missed a field trip since he started going to school at age 4; as much as possible, me and my husband would accompany him but if that was not possible, we compromised by having one of us take a leave from work.

So of course, I was excited. But, half-way through the letter, my son said, "Mom, our teacher said we can go by ourselves. Parents don't have to join because we're alreay in Grade 4."

I was silent for a while. I was calm on the outside but inside, my mind was racing to find answers to my questions: Did we do something to make him feel embarrassed of us? Have I been too much of a stage mom? Maybe he feels constricted by our presence!

Finally, I asked, "Why?"

He started to reason out--the field trip fee was too expensive, the teachers would be there to take care of them, he's big enough so he already knew what to do, his classmates were also going by themselves, etc.

Calmly, I said, "is that what you really want?"

He was hesistant but he finally admitted to it.

I told him to ask his Dad but I will consider it.

My little man getting on the bus for their fieldtrip...without me! 

That was a week ago. Now, I'm standing in front of his school where four giant tour buses were parked. Teachers and class assistants were busy lining up students from Grades 4 to 6, taking their names, and guiding them to their respective buses.

I was feeling squishy. It took all my energy just to stop myself from boarding Bus 3, where my son was assigned to. The principal must have sensed my agitation because she approached me an gave me a tap on the shoulder. "It's okay. This will help him learn to be independent and responsible. We will take care of him and bring him back to you later safe and sound."

I remained standing on my spot until the buses were out of sight.

There were a number of parents, mostly moms, who joined despite their children's protest. There were also some who were forced to tag along because their children begged them to. Then there were parents who chose to let their children go alone as long as they are allowed to follow in their own car. As for me, I allowed my son to go on a field trip on his own because:

1. I saw that there were enough skilled and dedicated teachers and staff to supervise the students.
2. I believed in my son and I want him to know that as well.
3. I wantes him to learn to be more responsible with his actions and his things.
4. The learning locations this time were not too far and I could get to him in less than an hour if something came up.
5. I knew a couple of moms who were in the same bus as my son and I was confident that they would not let him get into trouble.

Of course, I didn't just let him off the hook. I also made preparations:

1. I made sure that he has my mobile number as well as all the teachers and class assistant going to the field trip (I personally distributed my handwritten number to them). 
2. I got the number of the teacher in charge of his group and his bus so I could ask for updates any time.
3. Finally, I asked two of the moms in the bus (one is the mother of my son's seatmate and the other one is the mother of my son's forever classmate) if they could keep an eye on my son.

With the buses and the long convoy of mom/dad drivers gone, I started walking away from the school gate. I went to catch a ride to work, silently keeping the nervousness in my heart, wrapped in prayers.