My 7-year-old biked solo to a neighboring town today

We live in the Swiss Alps. My son rode his bike alone for the first time to visit a friend—about 5 km away, with 200 meters of descent on mixed trail and mountain roads.

He had a helmet, his backpack, and a smartwatch that lets him call me. No adult followed, but I could see the start from our balcony. His friend’s dad texted me once he got there.

He’s done this route with me many times. Today just felt like the right time to let him do it alone. And he was ready. Treated it like it was nothing.

Not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, but it felt like a solid step forward.