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Just have to vent!!! We went to a family BBQ last night and DH's cousin allowed their 5 year old daughter to walk all over the neighborhood by herself. When one of the other cousins showed up a little later, it was around 8:15pm, she saw this little girl wandering blocks away by the high school, IN THE DARK....wearing a tank top, skirt and these awful boots...sorry but DH and I have agreed her outfit was inappropriate...trashy to say the least...but that's not the point. The point is, a 5 year old kid was just wandering all over the place WITH HER PARENTS PERMISSION!!!! Yikes! Mind you, there were other kids there...aged 6-13, but I still find that unacceptable and scary as heck. The cousin that happened to drive by opened her window and told the younger kids to get in the car, as it was dark and after 8pm. They told her they were allowed to be there, so what could she do? People like this piss me off, and I am always having to defend my parenting when I go to family functions. It makes me soooo angry. I'm afraid to even run to the restroom for fear that while I'm in there for a few minutes, my dd will run off with this little girl since her parents give her the go ahead!! GRRRRRR
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I'm with you. I do give my 5-yr old a lot of lee-way but I don't force her older cousins or siblings into defacto babysitting unless I have a clear understanding with the older child that they are specifically to look-out for my little one. Even then, I would be checking on the kids to make sure all is okay.
I - as much as anyone else - want a break from parenting but they are rare. Parenting is a 24/7 job and it is one I take seriously. I am forever blessed to have DD in our lives and I dread the thought that something would happen to her that would cause her harm.
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Originally Posted by GoPytn07
Just have to vent!!! We went to a family BBQ last night and DH's cousin allowed their 5 year old daughter to walk all over the neighborhood by herself.
In my opinion, a five-year-old should not be allowed to wander off anywhere alone out of eyesight from a parent or adult. Something awful could have happened so quickly to that poor child and it would all be because of poor and lazy parenting.
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That is crazy!!!!!!! I don't even know what else to say about it!
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Thats crazy!! my youngest is 5!! there is NOWAY she would be aloowed to go run off around the neighborhood alone!
our back yard and our house! is the only place she has free reign of ! and if she goes outside she MUST let me know!! or she doesnt get to playo outside!!!
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WOW!!! no not happening here either
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Wow that is so irresponsible, just to think what could have happend esp with her being dressed like that - leads to other problems. At that time of the day, she should have been inside, and safe, not running around on the street - even if it was with her cousins.
The furthest I would let my child out of my eye-site is in the garden at home - knowing she will be safe there due to fencind all around and three wonderful and protective dogs.
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I think thats crazy! It also is very scary!
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I dont even let my 10 yr old go anywhere by herself let alone letting her when she was 5...to much happening out in this world lately
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And then these are the type of "parents" that you see on the news acting like the helpless victims when something happens to their child. Makes me so mad when people think this is acceptable behavior as a parent. There was a case in northern IA where this little girl was assaulted and murdered. Still haven't solved it but the "mom" had no clue her boyfriend was looking at inappropriate pictures of children on the computer. Then proceeded to stand by him when he's in jail.
Are they from a smaller town and let their kids run free? I know people at work that are more "relaxed" in their parenting because they live in small towns.
I speak up when I see kids getting hurt or parents being stupid so I would have said something. "It's dark and do you have any clue where your child is. Nope, Didn't think so. She could be raped , kidnapped, or run over by a car and you wouldn't have a clue. Good job parenting!"