Free-range kids picked up AGAIN by police

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It takes 130 pages for someone to mention that the mom isn't a scientist or whatever she's been portrayed in the news but a writer of (bad) erotic fiction?!?!?! Somehow that just makes the whole story that much more ridiculous. (The ridiculous part being that they have managed to provoke a massive amount of press around a nonexistent threat from overbearing police, CPS, school secretaries and others....)

That's a new twist to the plot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Because kids have needs. They need supervision, they need help with things, etc. We get so tired of going to the playground having kids insisting on us playing with them, entertaining them, trying to eat our snacks (sorry, no, not without parents permission and bring your own), and insisting we lift them, push them on the swing, try to ride our bikes, scooters. We aren't lifting or touching another child except in an emergency - not taking the risk of being accused of something. Most parents who are at the park are so checked out and have no clue or don't care what their kids are doing. It always amazes us.

Yes, all kids have needs. In fact, all human beings have needs. That doesn't mean that all kids (aged 0-17) need equal levels of supervision and equal help with the same things. At some point, kids are able to go to the park by themselves. The question is, when?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It takes 130 pages for someone to mention that the mom isn't a scientist or whatever she's been portrayed in the news but a writer of (bad) erotic fiction?!?!?! Somehow that just makes the whole story that much more ridiculous. (The ridiculous part being that they have managed to provoke a massive amount of press around a nonexistent threat from overbearing police, CPS, school secretaries and others....)

Dad is a scientist.

So is the mother: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielleluttenbergmeitiv

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because kids have needs. They need supervision, they need help with things, etc. We get so tired of going to the playground having kids insisting on us playing with them, entertaining them, trying to eat our snacks (sorry, no, not without parents permission and bring your own), and insisting we lift them, push them on the swing, try to ride our bikes, scooters. We aren't lifting or touching another child except in an emergency - not taking the risk of being accused of something. Most parents who are at the park are so checked out and have no clue or don't care what their kids are doing. It always amazes us.

Yes, all kids have needs. In fact, all human beings have needs. That doesn't mean that all kids (aged 0-17) need equal levels of supervision and equal help with the same things. At some point, kids are able to go to the park by themselves. The question is, when?

Not at age 6.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because kids have needs. They need supervision, they need help with things, etc. We get so tired of going to the playground having kids insisting on us playing with them, entertaining them, trying to eat our snacks (sorry, no, not without parents permission and bring your own), and insisting we lift them, push them on the swing, try to ride our bikes, scooters. We aren't lifting or touching another child except in an emergency - not taking the risk of being accused of something. Most parents who are at the park are so checked out and have no clue or don't care what their kids are doing. It always amazes us.

Yes, all kids have needs. In fact, all human beings have needs. That doesn't mean that all kids (aged 0-17) need equal levels of supervision and equal help with the same things. At some point, kids are able to go to the park by themselves. The question is, when?

Not at age 6.

Actually, there are six-year-olds who are able to go to the park by themselves. That is a fact.

Also a fact: it used to be normal for six-year-olds to go to the park (and other places) by themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone provide the link to the mom's blog?

I'm not aware of a blog but she is a writer of erotic novels and here is her web site
http://authorjoydaniels.com/

OMG, this is a whole new wrinkle to the situation. Has anyone read one of her books?

How is the mother's work relevant to the case? Aside from prurient curiosity.

Well, aside from that, it shows the mother is very savvy about publicity and marketing. Which tends to support the view of those who feel this whole situation was a set-up by the parents, for publicity.

[Anonymous]

What bothers me is that people are going to the police instead of directly to a parent.

If I saw a 4yo alone out, I would talk to his/her parent, not the police.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read the first and last pages of this 129 page thread! Wow, such interest in this. Don't know anything about the mom's blog - can you share a link?
I ran free in our small town when I was a child. All the kids did. No helicopter parenting then. But Silver Spring is not the same as a very small, rural town.
But the older kid was 10! That's old enough to babysit his younger sister, so I don't get what all the fuss is about.
Anyway, were I this mom, I'd never let those kids out of my sight once they'd been picked up by the police! What are they thinking! Did they want more publicity! The police were wrong, but the parents were stupid! Please.

Not legally. That's the crux of the whole issue. If you think the younger child required some sort of supervision, it has to be provided by someone 13 or older.

Which gets us right back to:

1. Which law?
2. Or which regulation?
3. Is the law/regulation reasonable?

When I was 6, I walked to school with my brother, who was 8. He wasn't supervising me. We were walking to school together.

It's not law - it's a guideline and every big county in the area has them and CPS follows up. Fairfax under 8 years old never left alone for any period of time anywhere/8-10 years old up to 90 minutes not caring for younger siblings/11-13 up to 3 hours and can care for younger siblings etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone provide the link to the mom's blog?

I'm not aware of a blog but she is a writer of erotic novels and here is her web site
http://authorjoydaniels.com/

OMG, this is a whole new wrinkle to the situation. Has anyone read one of her books?

How is the mother's work relevant to the case? Aside from prurient curiosity.

Well, aside from that, it shows the mother is very savvy about publicity and marketing. Which tends to support the view of those who feel this whole situation was a set-up by the parents, for publicity.

It does? Surely some authors are savvy about publicity and marketing. But that doesn't mean that all authors are.

And then, of course, there's the question of how the parents even could have set it up. Maybe they paid the dog walker to call 911? And the "homeless person" to "eye" the children? But that still doesn't account for the police officer making the decision the police officer made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What bothers me is that people are going to the police instead of directly to a parent.

If I saw a 4yo alone out, I would talk to his/her parent, not the police.

If I knew the parent, sure. But if I didn't I would call the police.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because kids have needs. They need supervision, they need help with things, etc. We get so tired of going to the playground having kids insisting on us playing with them, entertaining them, trying to eat our snacks (sorry, no, not without parents permission and bring your own), and insisting we lift them, push them on the swing, try to ride our bikes, scooters. We aren't lifting or touching another child except in an emergency - not taking the risk of being accused of something. Most parents who are at the park are so checked out and have no clue or don't care what their kids are doing. It always amazes us.

Yes, all kids have needs. In fact, all human beings have needs. That doesn't mean that all kids (aged 0-17) need equal levels of supervision and equal help with the same things. At some point, kids are able to go to the park by themselves. The question is, when?

Not at age 6.

Actually, there are six-year-olds who are able to go to the park by themselves. That is a fact.

Also a fact: it used to be normal for six-year-olds to go to the park (and other places) by themselves.

My six year old can give you directions to somewhere he wants to go 30 minutes away, including street names and where to turn. He could very easily walk to any of the playgrounds in our neighborhood. That doesn't mean its ok for him to go alone. I grew up in this area and it was not normal for a 6 year old to be out on their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What bothers me is that people are going to the police instead of directly to a parent.

If I saw a 4yo alone out, I would talk to his/her parent, not the police.

These parents have been spoken to on numerous occasions by CPS and the school - see her comments via her Facebook page. She is doing it her way and doesn't care what anyone else thinks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It takes 130 pages for someone to mention that the mom isn't a scientist or whatever she's been portrayed in the news but a writer of (bad) erotic fiction?!?!?! Somehow that just makes the whole story that much more ridiculous. (The ridiculous part being that they have managed to provoke a massive amount of press around a nonexistent threat from overbearing police, CPS, school secretaries and others....)

They have managed to provoke police, CPS, and the school all looking for a reaction and attention when instead of starting unnecessary wars they should be supervising their kids. She can easily take a laptop and do her writing and internet posting from a park bench.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because kids have needs. They need supervision, they need help with things, etc. We get so tired of going to the playground having kids insisting on us playing with them, entertaining them, trying to eat our snacks (sorry, no, not without parents permission and bring your own), and insisting we lift them, push them on the swing, try to ride our bikes, scooters. We aren't lifting or touching another child except in an emergency - not taking the risk of being accused of something. Most parents who are at the park are so checked out and have no clue or don't care what their kids are doing. It always amazes us.

Yes, all kids have needs. In fact, all human beings have needs. That doesn't mean that all kids (aged 0-17) need equal levels of supervision and equal help with the same things. At some point, kids are able to go to the park by themselves. The question is, when?

Not at age 6.

Says who? You? So what. For others it could be okay. Not all parents are alike. Not all kids are alike. That is why government should not interfere.

And by the way, I was 6 and walked home from school everyday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It takes 130 pages for someone to mention that the mom isn't a scientist or whatever she's been portrayed in the news but a writer of (bad) erotic fiction?!?!?! Somehow that just makes the whole story that much more ridiculous. (The ridiculous part being that they have managed to provoke a massive amount of press around a nonexistent threat from overbearing police, CPS, school secretaries and others....)

They have managed to provoke police, CPS, and the school all looking for a reaction and attention when instead of starting unnecessary wars they should be supervising their kids. She can easily take a laptop and do her writing and internet posting from a park bench.

But why should she, when the kids don't need supervision?