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When I read these articles and view these responses I have to admit that a part of me wonders. Will those supporting kids running off independently also be those who are saying, The Jones' kids are always running on the streets at all hours, the Smith kids are everywhere.. I bet the Johnson's parents don't have half a clue where their kids are most of the time or I can't believe Johnny is out so late.
I feel I am a responsible parent. I know where my child is, I have met her friends, I know who is going to be home to supervise etc. I see tossed up frequently the notion that it is all about a unrealistic fear of child abduction or molestation. It isn't at all, at least not for myself. There are many, many things that unattended children, or simply absentee parentism can cause. Is it so wrong that I call to parents ahead and check? I don't think so. I don't allow my daughter to walk to school. I don't live in the most urban environment, but I do know the traffic in those areas and it is horrible for a pedestrian. I also know of at least 2 fatalities of children crossing in those areas. Does it make me overprotective or mean I have common sense to take advantage of a perfectly good bus system?
When I and my child were both prepared for her to expand her territory beyond where my voice would carry she gained a cell phone. She carries it with her at all times. Go out and play is just fine, I have no issue with the walks to the park, the hanging out with the friends. I do want to know where she is going, if she is going somewhere else from there, and an absolute must is when she is to come home and if it is further away than usual, a call when she gets there. Does this make me overprotective or does this make me a parent?
I feel that there is excellent dialog in my home. We have discussed drugs, alcohol, boys etc all at great length. I actually come from a belief that exposing those topics in film, television etc(no, not porn) so discussion can take place is a positive thing rather than a thing to be avoided. Those are protections yes, but for some kids it is not enough. Some kids definitely need to see an arm out to slow them down as situations can fall quickly out of control when there is peer pressure involved. Live free, learn and grow can easily turn into a parents worst nightmare.
Another thing to ponder, is when you have to start a sentence with.. When I am a parent... it isn't advice or wisdom you are sharing, it is an idea or concept. No matter how many babysitting hours you have logged, no matter how many hours you have spent with the little siblings or nieces and nephews.. you haven't been a parent until you have had a child. It is easy to look back at childhood and resent the times you felt that you were ready to take certain steps that weren't allowed. Once you hold that seed in your arms and are watching it grow, your mind changes a little. You start to recall the things you would have done should you have been given the chance and recognize the consequences. It makes you hold on a little bit tighter, it changes your view dramatically.
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