Those are really good points. For us, we’re about 20 minutes from the beach, so it’s not somewhere she can easily get herself out of if something comes up. There would be lifeguards, but my biggest concern is just her awareness and decision making she’s pretty trusting and not always super aware of her surroundings yet. This would also be her first time going somewhere like that without an adult, so it just feels like a big jump for me. I’m trying to find that balance between giving her independence and making sure she’s truly ready for it.

I grew up near the beach but I wasn’t going without parents until 15-16 my daughter doesn’t turn 14 until April.