Reply to Free-range kids picked up AGAIN by police

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[quote=Anonymous]I don't hover or follow my kids around. My kids play outside and have free reign on the cul de sac. My little kids can play outside with their older siblings, but the little ones cannot be a mile away from our home. My 11 year old can venture off with a few other neighborhood kids, but my 7 year old cannot.

I think it's truly odd that parents feel like letting very young kids play a mile away from home is somehow a critical developmental step in terms of fostering confidence and independence. There are many such mechanisms. How about let your kid order and pay for their own snack at Panera? We taught our kids from an early age how to read a menu, order and pay (and count change). That's a critical life skill. How about teaching your kid how to properly mow a lawn, rake leaves and shovel snow? Our kids can do this and now do it for neighbors. Great life skill.

I made the comment about what I consider selfish/lazy parenting because I've reached an age where I've witnessed a lot of selfish/lazy parenting justified as fostering independence or creativity. My pals who criticize organized sports and activities by citing too much pressure or not creative enough use excuses when the reality is that they don't want to be bothered with schlepping kids to activities and games because it cuts into their "me" time. These folks also tend to drink during their me time (cocktails as soon as they get home from work), so that's what prompted my comment. I'm not saying I think every parent does those things...but I happen to know a bunch of people who do...and I wonder if the Meitivs are those kinds of parents.

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