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I am free range all the way, but I can see why people might be hesitant on that score. It's a less friendly and social world.
I don't think the problem is with parents who do not take a "free range" approach to their own parenting. The problem is with parents who think it should be illegal for other parents to take a free range approach. And they are out there, passing laws restricting how their neighbors are allowed to raise their children.
I don't think the problem is with parents who do not take a "free range" approach to their own parenting. The problem is with parents who think it should be illegal for other parents to take a free range approach. And they are out there, passing laws restricting how their neighbors are allowed to raise their children.
Understood. And I am happy that Utah decided to finally do something to put busybody jacktards out of the meddling business. No doubt.
Just pointing out that if some people view today less favorably than yesteryear, it kinda makes sense. Still doesn't give busybodies the right to wreck other people's lives for not parenting according to their whacko helicopter standards, but it seems like only small towns still have any semblance of social bond.
I emailed two friends who live outside of Salt Lake. Both said same thing there.
What is this all about exactly?
The article referred to a couple instances in other states where parents were charged and the charges were dropped. Didn't seem to be a problem in Utah.
It sounds like it is designed to encourage giving kids some freedom, and normalize it so parents know it's a good thing to let their kids run around and play outside. The mindset can seep in that you are a bad parent if you aren't watching them 24/7 and of course that is not true.
I was a mother myself when Etan Patz was abducted. However, a generation before that I was more or less a free range child on the streets of NYC. Played outside in the streets, walked to and from school, walked from the Village to Central Park, rode the subways, etc.
The only problem I ever had was actually from an NYPD Squad Car following me home in my "sexy" Catholic School Girl Uniform at 11 years old taunting me with, "Hey, Baby, want a ride home?" "Kiss, Kiss". Ironic, huh?
I ignored them and walked as fast as I could home. My Dad was a Longshoreman and got home early from work. As soon as I got home, I told him what happened. He ran out the door cursing looking for them. I am sure if he had found them he would have shot them had he had a gun.
It sounds like it is designed to encourage giving kids some freedom, and normalize it so parents know it's a good thing to let their kids run around and play outside. The mindset can seep in that you are a bad parent if you aren't watching them 24/7 and of course that is not true.
Do people really need a law to encourage them to let their kids play outside?
This law is not going to change the "mindset" of the parents who keep a close on their kids. The parents who call before their kids come over to spend the night. The parents who set and enforce curfews. ... These parents are unlikely to switch supervision strategies because the law says they can.
For all this talk about helicopter parenting, I haven't seen many signs of this.
In fact, several of our neighbors are raising their grandchildren because otherwise the kids would be in foster care. Not much helicopter parenting happening there.
For all this talk about helicopter parenting, I haven't seen many signs of this.
In fact, several of our neighbors are raising their grandchildren because otherwise the kids would be in foster care. Not much helicopter parenting happening there.
I sure have. My neighbor is a prime example: she doesn’t allow her 12-year-old to cross our street (it’s a narrow, dead end street) or even stay home alone for any length of time. Fine; her kid, her rules. But she likes to keep tabs on other people’s kids, too. One day I let my 10-year-old put herself on the bus (normally she goes to before care because the bus comes 1 hour after I leave for work, but next year she won’t have before care, so I want her to have an occasional trial run). I texted her every so often, and when it was time to go, she walked the 300 feet to the bus stop without incident. Said neighbor approached my daughter that afternoon and said that she was very concerned about her being left alone. I was furious. Firstly, it’s none of her concern if I used my judgement regarding my child’s readiness for a new responsibility. Secondly, if she was so concerned, she should approach ME, not my child, putting the idea in her head that she is not being properly cared for.
We have a busybody neighbor as well. They are a pain in the butt, no doubt about it.
We just roll our eyes and go on.
Your situation, you may want to have a conversation with her about minding her own business.
If she turned you into social services, that's another matter.
However, if you lived in Utah, you can now tell her that you were raising a ""free range" child and to butt out.
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