Mom to Mom

[bmorechick]

i grew up in the city of Baltimore in the 60s and 70s.  While we were allowed to play in the alley or a street over, but we were never allowed to roam. My mom was way ahead of her time and always worried about someone snatching us. We never walked to school...she drove us to and picked us up. Or a close neighbor would. Today, when I go home to see my family, it makes my blood run cold when I see kids running free. Their parents would be the first ones on TV boo hooing about their kidnapped child...well where were you?

I was a helicopter parent and have 3 very independent adult children. Even at 62, my 91 year old dad says hey call me when you get home so I know you made it. He does the same with my sisters and they live around the corner.  To me, yes it can be exhausting to be a helicopter parent but I would never forgive myself if something happened to one of my children when they were small due to my negligence.  

[GSPgirl]

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@Glitter51wrote:

That’s whats wrong with the world today!!! We need to get back to actually raising and disciplining our children. So many people wants to be their child’s “friend “ instead of being the parent.  Children need and want to be paid attention to. The world has gone crazy IMO.  

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Exactly.  I stopped teaching because of the parents. 

[Kachina624]

This is a boon for the lazy who don't want to be bothered by their kids.  We all know times have changed and children must be protected from the elements in our society that would harm them.

[CalminHeart]

IMO, free-range parenting seems like an excuse to not parent.

[chrystaltree]

I think parents should be allowed to raise their children in any way they see fit.  If they want their kids running around the neighborhood like hooligans, so be it.  And that's what we are are really talking about.  We aren't talking about kids who walk to and from school or who are allowed to play in a playground after school.  We're talking about kids who have the freedom throughout the neighborhood at will.  Kids being kids; especially the boys; they will get into mischief.  They will be a nuisance when they get bored.  Kids don't have good judgement and without supervision and rules; they could easily be influenced by older kids who aren't good kids.  It goes on and on and on.  But if parents don't care about things like that, so be it.   Some parents smoke in their homes and cars; they are allowed to do that.  Parents are allowed to feed their kids cookies, cakes, chips and soda all day and they are allowed to do that.  This isn't much different.  

[game-on]

It seems like everything is about scaring parents.... and I know there are bad things that happen to kids.... but % wise I am not sure that there are as many awful things that happen as we are led to believe.

[Jill2dot0]

I guess it's okay ... until one of these kids "free-range" over into someone else's yard, or get's in the drive way ... or get's bitten by a dog because they "free-ranged" themselves over someones fence ... or falls into a pool.

I don't like the idea of having to child proof the world, cause some don't want to watch their kids ... 

[SahmIam]

Well, I guess I'm a "free-range" parent. 

My kids walk to school (elementary and middle) without me holding their hand.

My kids walk the neighborhood with their buddies or ride their bikes all over the place (neighborhood) or ride to the schools to shoot hoops. We have trails that connect the communities and that's what they use.

My kids explore the woods around our homes, the schools without me.

My kids walk to the local liquor store which sells soda, candy and chips; they cross a busy rural road to get there. They walk with their friends (6th grade) or alone (once they enter 8th grade). The family that owns that shop knows all the kids and their kids go to school with my kids.

My rule is you let me know where you're going and you call me once you're there. Dinner time is at XYZ. You WILL be here at that point UNLESS you call me first. I WILL know the names of the parents of the friends house you're going to, their address and their phone number. 

I trust they know right from wrong; that's how they're being raised. Common sense is used and well, there ya go.

[ROMARY]

I think the most thing I'm worried about is that most/many/some kids are walking around, not paying attention to their surroundings, looking down, texting.  Or listening to loud music in their ear buds. 

That, 'to me', is very dangerous.

Especially when they are alone.

Too many culprits driving, or maybe even lurking, around, just waiting for trouble. 

[SunValley]

This law assumes parents have good judgment, that children will make sensible decisions on what is safe or appropriate when faced with situations on their own, that children will not get into mischief, and that nothing bad will happen (open water like canals, roaming dogs, traffic, and weirdos) because, well, statistically it won’t. The perfect storm...