10yearold

A few years ago, when our son was 8, one of his mates asked if he could go bike riding around the neighborhood with him. This particular kid is a strong mountain bike rider and has always been mature for his age, so his parents trusted his judgment when he…

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michaeleen Doucleff, the author of “Hunt, Gather, Parent” and “Dopamine Kids,” released on March 3. This story has been edited for length and clarity. Loading audio narration… Around the time my daughter, Rosy, was 4, we went to the beach. It…