Jophiel wrote:
That said, WTF?? I feel like someone should be calling DCFS on me when I let my 5yr old play in the backyard and keep an eye on him through the kitchen or backdoor window. I can't imagine letting him wander off a couple blocks unattended yet.
I completely agree. I too barely let my kids (5yrs and 2yrs) go outside in our privacy fenced back yard. If not for the fact that they might get kidnapped, but that they might hurt themselves on the playset that we have. It's more hassle than it's worth for me since I end up standing right by the window the whole time. I may as well just get off my *** and go outside with them. Hence, they don't get as much playtime outside as they probably should.
In fact, my oldest daughter's bus company has told me that next year she'll be expected/able to walk anywhere from 1-6 blocks to and from the bus stop unattended. No way Jose...not my kid. I intend to make sure that someone is there to walk her to and from the bus stop everyday. The world that we live in today is way to nuts.
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Boy, have times changed...
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Nah, just the way people treat children.
We used to treat them as small, developing human beings. Now we treat them as if they are made of glass and the most important things in the universe.
I'm not sure if times have changed or not, but they sure seem to have. Maybe not with actual crime statistics, but in actions of the youth today in general. When I was 13, I had just started testing the waters with swearing and boys etc. (okay, maybe I was a little sheltered). Today, if I take my kids to the park/playground it amazes me the trash that I hear coming out of 5yrs+ kids mouths !! And the parents sit there and do NOTHING !! It gets me so mad !!
And, IMHO kids ARE the most important things in the universe. They are the only thing that can make me smile or start laughing hysterically regardless of how crappy a day I'm having. One smile and you just about burst with happiness ! And how can you resist those tiny eskimo kisses?