Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
9-Year-Old Braves the Subway System Alone
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 3, 2008
Modified Apr 3, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 3, 2008
Modified Apr 3, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
One New York mother decided to let her 9-year-old son fend for himself in the city, and that mom would be NY Sun columnist Lenore Skenazy. In today's Sun, she gives the the play-by-play.
Apparently the little guy had been craving some independence, so Seknazy left him at Bloomingdale's one afternoon with nothing but a map, a MetroCard and $20 -- including some quarters if he needed to call ("No, I did not give him a cell phone. Didn’t want to lose it."). His mission: get home safe.
I trusted him to figure out that he should take the Lexington Avenue subway down, and the 34th Street crosstown bus home. If he couldn’t do that, I trusted him to ask a stranger. And then I even trusted that stranger not to think, “Gee, I was about to catch my train home, but now I think I’ll abduct this adorable child instead.” Long story short: My son got home, ecstatic with independence.
Many want to turn this mom in for child abuse, but she notes: "Justice Department data actually show the number of children abducted by strangers has been going down over the years," and says the next mission for her 9-year-old is to get home from Queens. This all sounds like a new reality show (Survivor: Subway?), and the kid has already gotten his small screen debut -- he appeared on The Today Show this morning (video). She defended herself to Ann Curry, saying, "It’s safe to go on the subway. It’s safe to ride your bike on the streets. We’re like brainwashed because of all the stories we hear that it isn’t safe. But those are the exceptions."
Photo via Pixietart's Flickr.
Tagged
9-year-old
bloomingdale's
lenore skenazy
son
subway
the today show
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY's housing crisis is on the ballot. Here's what the candidates say they'll do about it.
Housing costs are top of mind for many voters across New York.
By
David Brand
Published Oct 29, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway is a haven for reckless driving. Mamdani isn't allowed to fix it.
City data shows seven people have been killed and 74 were seriously injured in crashes along the street over the last five years.
By
Stephen Nessen
News
Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway is a haven for reckless driving. Mamdani isn't allowed to fix it.
City data shows seven people have been killed and 74 were seriously injured in crashes along the street over the last five years.
By
Stephen Nessen
Man killed in police-involved shooting in Moonachie, NJ
By
Kaya Laterman
Queens man took girlfriend’s body to beach in a wagon, where it remained for 5 days
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani extends NYC racial equity leader's term after Council pushes back on replacement
By
Elizabeth Kim
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .