Free-range kids picked up AGAIN by police

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Since I don't think there's anything wrong with sending a six-year-old and a ten-year-old to the park by themselves, and I do think there's something seriously wrong with taking a six-year-old and ten-year-old into CPS custody for being in the park by themselves, I'm going to focus on the police and CPS actions, not on condemning the parents. It's also a lot more productive.

Really? How is it productive? What have you accomplished?

What have you accomplished in saying, "Bad parents! Bad!" on an anonymous internet message board? Maybe if you personally knew them, and they asked your opinion, and you gave it to them. But I'm assuming that's not the case.

When you choose to be in the limelight you get all the judgement that goes with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Let's use your logic, pp. If I think it's reasonable to let my 18 or 20 year old to drink so I let them and get in trouble with the court, then I should focus my criticism on the law, the police and the courts...who are merely doing their job...rather than evaluate my parenting when I continue to allow them to drink despite having been told by the court not to allow that. Dumb. Really dumb.

I agree with the pp about wondering about the parents judgment overall.

But they are not merely doing their job. Their job is to maintain public safety, enforce the law, and look after the best interests of the child. Picking up two children at the park does none of these things.

Also, there is a significant distinction between thinking about the wisdom of your own behavior and condemning the behavior of other people. Lots of people do lots of things, all the time, that I think are dumb. That doesn't mean that the police should not allow people to do those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Since I don't think there's anything wrong with sending a six-year-old and a ten-year-old to the park by themselves, and I do think there's something seriously wrong with taking a six-year-old and ten-year-old into CPS custody for being in the park by themselves, I'm going to focus on the police and CPS actions, not on condemning the parents. It's also a lot more productive.

Really? How is it productive? What have you accomplished?

What have you accomplished in saying, "Bad parents! Bad!" on an anonymous internet message board? Maybe if you personally knew them, and they asked your opinion, and you gave it to them. But I'm assuming that's not the case.

When you choose to be in the limelight you get all the judgement that goes with it.

Well, sure, if it's one of your hobbies to condemn other parents, then have it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whether or not I agree that these kids should be able to do this type of thing, I can't imagine doing it after the first instance of CPS involvement. Seems kind of stupid and asking for trouble.

Yes.

This is intentional, deliberate, and repeated flouting of the law. These parents are looking for trouble and they're putting their children in the limelight as a result.

Shameful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's use your logic, pp. If I think it's reasonable to let my 18 or 20 year old to drink so I let them and get in trouble with the court, then I should focus my criticism on the law, the police and the courts...who are merely doing their job...rather than evaluate my parenting when I continue to allow them to drink despite having been told by the court not to allow that. Dumb. Really dumb.

I agree with the pp about wondering about the parents judgment overall.

But they are not merely doing their job. Their job is to maintain public safety, enforce the law, and look after the best interests of the child. Picking up two children at the park does none of these things.

Also, there is a significant distinction between thinking about the wisdom of your own behavior and condemning the behavior of other people. Lots of people do lots of things, all the time, that I think are dumb. That doesn't mean that the police should not allow people to do those things.

How do you know that? How many calls does CPS get like this a year? How many are actually neglect situations? How is CPS supposed to determine neglect vs non-neglect?

[Anonymous]

Downtown Silver Spring has some very busy streets, and a few pedestrian fatalities in the past few years. Sometimes kids don't pay enough attention or take stupid risks because they don't truly understand they could get hit by a car or whatever. A good number of adults and teens run across Colesville, Georgia, etc. against the light. If you're not paying attention, that serves as a cue that it's your turn to cross too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Since I don't think there's anything wrong with sending a six-year-old and a ten-year-old to the park by themselves, and I do think there's something seriously wrong with taking a six-year-old and ten-year-old into CPS custody for being in the park by themselves, I'm going to focus on the police and CPS actions, not on condemning the parents. It's also a lot more productive.

Really? How is it productive? What have you accomplished?

What have you accomplished in saying, "Bad parents! Bad!" on an anonymous internet message board? Maybe if you personally knew them, and they asked your opinion, and you gave it to them. But I'm assuming that's not the case.

When you choose to be in the limelight you get all the judgement that goes with it.

Well, sure, if it's one of your hobbies to condemn other parents, then have it!

I do the same with the rich Potomac parents that doll out $2500 fines without batting an eye so their teens can have drinking parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's use your logic, pp. If I think it's reasonable to let my 18 or 20 year old to drink so I let them and get in trouble with the court, then I should focus my criticism on the law, the police and the courts...who are merely doing their job...rather than evaluate my parenting when I continue to allow them to drink despite having been told by the court not to allow that. Dumb. Really dumb.

I agree with the pp about wondering about the parents judgment overall.

But they are not merely doing their job. Their job is to maintain public safety, enforce the law, and look after the best interests of the child. Picking up two children at the park does none of these things.

Also, there is a significant distinction between thinking about the wisdom of your own behavior and condemning the behavior of other people. Lots of people do lots of things, all the time, that I think are dumb. That doesn't mean that the police should not allow people to do those things.

How do you know that? How many calls does CPS get like this a year? How many are actually neglect situations? How is CPS supposed to determine neglect vs non-neglect?

How do I know? Because two children walking to a park is not a threat to public safety and is not illegal, and because getting taken to CPS by the police for being children walking to a park is not in the best interests of a child.

[Anonymous]

CPS told them not to do it. They did it anyway, risking having their children put in foster care. There is something "off" with these parents. I'm thinking CPS saw some red flags in the first investigation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CPS told them not to do it. They did it anyway, risking having their children put in foster care. There is something "off" with these parents. I'm thinking CPS saw some red flags in the first investigation.

No, CPS found unsubstantiated neglect, not red flags.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. This is like people who said women who wear microskirts or show too much skin are asking to be assaulted, and the blame victims of sexual abuse for their choice of attire. When the reality is, victimization happens whether you bare your skin or cover yourself from head to toe. Everyone has different outlooks on what is in the best interest of their children. Why can't people accept people's choices? Tethering a child a la helicopter parents can have just as many consequences as those who set their kids loose.

[Anonymous]

It is insane that it has come to this. Kids should be able to play in parks just as we did when we were kids. CPS are so far out of line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CPS told them not to do it. They did it anyway, risking having their children put in foster care. There is something "off" with these parents. I'm thinking CPS saw some red flags in the first investigation.

If CPS puts children in foster care because their parents let them walk to the park, then there is a major, major problem with CPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CPS told them not to do it. They did it anyway, risking having their children put in foster care. There is something "off" with these parents. I'm thinking CPS saw some red flags in the first investigation.

If CPS puts children in foster care because their parents let them walk to the park, then there is a major, major problem with CPS.

Actually they are doing their job and they have to respond to any reports by citizens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CPS told them not to do it. They did it anyway, risking having their children put in foster care. There is something "off" with these parents. I'm thinking CPS saw some red flags in the first investigation.

If CPS puts children in foster care because their parents let them walk to the park, then there is a major, major problem with CPS.

Actually they are doing their job and they have to respond to any reports by citizens.

They have to respond to reports. They don't have to take children into custody and threaten to put them into foster care.