Was I over- helicoptery yesterday?

[Anonymous]

I don't let my 7 year old go without me so I definitely wouldn't let my 4 and 5 year old go. My neighborhood gets about 200 Trick or treaters and there are no streetlights. Granted, no one really drives on the street from 6-7 (when we take DS out) but still. No way.

[Anonymous]

Not at that age. No way. I walked our friends kids home last night, and they are 10, 7 and 5. We live in a quiet and safe neighborhood, but I wouldn’t make the 10 yo responsible for a 5yo who may or may not listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't let a 5 year old go with a 9 year old. I have a 10 year old and wouldn't let him alone.

Omg you’re so lame.

[Anonymous]

I was prepared to let DD9 go with her friend and friend’s 6 year old sister in our neighborhood, but when I dropped her off I was surprised at how many cars were driving around. She and her friend were careful but still zipping back and forth across the street. With the excitement of ToT’ing, seeing friends across the street, etc, and a 6 year old, we felt better shadowing to ensure they used “normal judgment”. Which they did not always!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't let a 5 year old go with a 9 year old. I have a 10 year old and wouldn't let him alone.

Really? You don't let your 10 year old TOT in his neighborhood w/friends alone? Now I do find THAT helicoptery.

I didn't let my 10 year old out alone either given the rainy weather and the cars. I think you'll find this is totally dependent on the neighborhood traffic and the number of intersections involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't let a 5 year old go with a 9 year old. I have a 10 year old and wouldn't let him alone.

Omg you’re so lame.

Hey look! Your 10 year old found DCUM and decided to post a response!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:if it's a cul de sac why didn't the adults set up their party at the "mouth" as a way to block traffic?

Lol what? Yeah I'd love to have my drive home from work or something blocked by idiots having a party in the street

[Anonymous]

Not at all -- I live on a CDS and I would be shocked to have a four year old or two come to my door alone. Parents are at least always waiting on the sidewalk.

[Anonymous]

Your friend sounds dumb,no?

[Anonymous]

I am pretty free range ish but you are right and this mom is insane even if it was a quiet neighborhood. Too young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No -- I would never let a 4 and 5 year old trick or treat alone...

Agree. It only takes a split second. I always remember Melissa Brannen.

[Anonymous]

You did the right thing, OP. Wne party can be after TOT. And who is going to want to drink wine when a 4 year old gets lost or hit by a car?

[Anonymous]

No way for a 4.5yo. I would have let them go in the cul de sac with older sibling but not beyond that.

I would let 8 and 10yo but DH goes with them with our 2yo.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you trusted your gut despite peer pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friend invited us to her hood for TOT. Her neighborhood is a cul de sac but opens to a busy road. Also there are lots of branch streets so it’s not like you can stand in the culdesac and see everything. Neighbors had garages open as well. Neighbors had an adult party while kids did TOT. Her 5 yo is NOT reliable and while a sweet kid had major defiance issues. My 4.5 yo is a follower. She said relax and stay with the grown ups and drink wine and let the two boys go around and her oldest (maybe 9?) would keep an eye on the younger two boys. Well, I saw the oldest run off with his friends about 10 seconds later so I left the grown up wine party and supervised the two little boys for the rest of the night. Not hovering just ensuring I could see them going house to house. I’m sure her neighborhood is safe but I just didn’t think that is was safe enough to let such young kids out of eyesight. They could have gotten daring and went to the main road etc. Anyway, too helicoptery?

Your neighbor probably blogs about how wonderful and free-range she is. I don't get it. Is wine that important? This is the adult version of "I'm too cool to study for the exam"