another parent gets the smack down

[Lace Neil Singer]

I spent a lot of time by myself as a kid. I used to take myself off to the green in the summer holidays to sit and read my book in peace without my brothers. If I was a kid now, I doubt I'd be allowed to go farther than the front garden... and that is sad. It's no wonder so many children are obese now when they're not allowed to go out and play.

Seriously, the chances of a pedophile snatching up a child are very small. It's a proven fact that most child abuse happens at the hands of either family members or friends of the family, not strangers.

[suchislife2]

:S at 10 years of age I was walking my sister (then 8) and her friend (then 7) much MUCH further down to the shops. Hell, dad let me walk the dog alone to the park at the age of 11 and 12, had to cross two roads to get there.

Why are kids being wrapped up in bubble wrap these days? Look, pedophiles and kiddnappers and all those nasty people have always been around. They sadly WON'T be going away. Letting your kid walk a small distance on their own is not going to kill them if you have you know, tought them what to do. It's sad really.

[Racket_Man]

I think I said this in another similiar thread.

From the age of 6 or so onwards me or a group of us , esp during the summer, would take off for the day/afternoon and go to or ride our bikes to one of the MANY local parks and just be kids. hell we even went to several parks that were at least 7 or 8 miles away and explore a cave system or ride aroung the largest one just for fun.

Heck I OMGOODNESS actually WALKED to school EVERY single day of grade AND highschool. granted my grade school was only like 6 blocks away but still......

and horrors of horrors we let our daughter (in her younger days like 15 years ago) play outside by HERSELF (OHHHHHH the HORROR and bad parenting)

[blas87]

There was actually a time, before middle/high school when I took the bus, when I had to walk to elementary school (which, again, just a bit too close for the school bus) and I didn't want to go alone. I didn't have any friends who lived nearby, so I had to walk alone.

My mom actually forced me to walk alone to learn how to do things on my own. One day she met me right at school. The next day, a block away. The next another block or so away. By the end of the week, I had to walk all the way home. And it was fine. I was never kidnapped.

[phantasy]

When I was in elementary school school, my mother never walked me to the school, but there was no bus so I often missed school days.
During my middle school period, I walked. It was close, about 2 miles away. A good 15-20 minutes walk.
High school came along and I took the school bus, since the school was about an hour away from my house.There were about 6 bus stops for the entire route, and the bus driver would NOT leave any child in an area that wasn't a bus stop. If you asked "hey, my house is right on this road that we're on. Can you stop just for a second?" She should laugh at you, and continue to let you off at the designated bus stops.

I think people need to let the younger generation learn independence, and stop holding their fucking hands through their entire lives. If you've taught your children well, there should be no need to babysit them like this.

[blas87]

We're already seeing the results of helicopter parents. Many kids just a few years younger than me are extremely dependent and worthless to society. I've witnessed that by people watching (my favorite hobby) and eavesdropping on coversations.

There are the few and the brave independent younger folks like McDreidel who are taking on their early adulthood with stride and fighting like champs. They are so rare, though

[Greenday]

I saw kids waiting at the end of the street today on the way to work. I know for a fact some of them might have had to walk a couple hundred feet to get there. Guess I should get on the phone with CPS right now!

[blas87]

Hurry up Greenday, FASTER!

And since they weren't completely wrapped up in bubble wrap, they are not properly dressed for the cold!

[IDrinkaRum]

My daughter's bus picks her up in front of our house (she uses the special needs bus). It stops in the street. Sometimes, I'll stand on our front steps and watch her walk down 4 more steps, step off the curb and walk into the street where the bus attendant is waiting to help her into her seat. Oh noes! Should someone be calling the CPS on me? I mean, I'm allowing her to step into the street! OMG!!!! [/sarcasm]

[Greenday]

Should someone be calling the CPS on me? I mean, I'm allowing her to step into the street! OMG!!!! [/sarcasm]

I think the answer is pretty obvious: YES!

You probably should have carried her there. What if she tripped and fell?

[blas87]

Rummy, you forgot the bubble wrap. Bad, bad parent!

[telecom_goddess]

My mom actually forced me to walk alone to learn how to do things on my own. One day she met me right at school. The next day, a block away. The next another block or so away. By the end of the week, I had to walk all the way home. And it was fine. I was never kidnapped.

You sure about that I think the aliens might have gotten hold of you

[McDreidel09]

There are the few and the brave independent younger folks like McDreidel who are taking on their early adulthood with stride and fighting like champs. They are so rare, though

D'awww thanks Blas! That made my day!

[Lace Neil Singer]

Rummy, you forgot the bubble wrap. Bad, bad parent!

Not just bubblewrap, but padding just in case she fell over!

[Mr. Anubite]

During my junior year of high school, I would occasionally take the bus to school. Early in the year, the busdriver just decides to start going to the stops early. One week it would be five minutes, the next week it was 10 minutes, and the third week was 15 minutes early. She did this without telling anyone!

For three weeks, at every stop, she would have to wait for the people (myself included) from the previous stop to finish making the breakneck run from the previous stop. Nothing like a five minute mile run to start the day! /sarcasm.