Badger's post got me thinking: Is it Really that dangerous, so terrorist-ridden, so snatch-your-child horrible, that we can never take our eyes off our children for even a minute? Are there Really that many more perverts in the world? Will our children ever be allowed to roam our neighborhoods at any age? Or were our parents just "Bad Parents"?
What do you think? What is your comfort level with allowing your children out of sight?
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8 comments:
This is tough. We live in a tiny town, so in order for my kids to see other children they're going to have to at least ride their bikes across the river and out of sight - which I will fuss and fret and feel horrible about, but I want them to grow up with memories of forts and secret places and hideouts....
It was different when my kids were little. We moved around a lot and to different countries so it was more play date kind of stuff and playing in our yard until they got older. By then we were here so it felt better. I think a lot depends on where you live. I remember running wild in the summer as a kid, but we knew every. single. person. in the neighborhood and I think everyone looked out for all the kids.
I would let my son roam around a bit when he was 10+, but he always had a watch with an alarm and had to check back in regularly.
I will not let my daughter roam around, but she has type 1 diabetes and I worry. She does have a cell phone now, so in theory, she could roam, but she's also very forgetful and would leave her phone (with her meter and kit) lying somewhere while she went gallivanting for hours and while I chewed my fingers off and started phoning the police.
Heh. WVW hlhekyno. Hell..heck no.
I drive my seven year old to school and watch while the crossing guard takes her across the street.
She then has a short distance in order to get into the school yard.
Even that makes me kind of nervous.
I just let my fifteen-year old start walking short distances occasionally.
I have zero tolerance. But he's only two. I suspect the worst is yet to come.
I am neurotic about keeping track of our boys. I can't imagine letting them run off and play outside even when they are 10 years old.
I don't think it's more dangerous today. It's always been dangerous Out There.
The stats are that Motherless Mothers are even more anal about their children's safety than most. And well, since I am a MM, I freak out. Now they are teens and I am not SO bad, but still: my son wanted to swim with friends in Lake Michigan and all I could think about was this HUGE FREAKIN' sign on the pier that showed two pictures of teens that died in LM. I told him he couldnt go. Swim in the pool out back, but no go on the lake deal. I'll let you know if he ever turns out normal...
PS: Enjoy your blog even though I've never posted before.
There aren't more perverts in the world today, they're just better armed.
My kids are never out of my sight, even if they don't know it.
-J.
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