tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post7566424341752400692..comments2023-09-20T08:04:54.407-07:00Comments on Life, She Wrote: Food For ThoughtAlicia Lepperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840970718186336518noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-3243386223985015482008-09-29T18:02:00.000-07:002008-09-29T18:02:00.000-07:00Thanks for starting this discussion, Alicia. It's ...Thanks for starting this discussion, Alicia. It's been really nice to read the opinions and perspectives of more experienced mothers. I need all the help I can get!andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08391887283343395293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-42705059492679335022008-09-29T08:43:00.000-07:002008-09-29T08:43:00.000-07:00Alicia, I love this post. I definitely lean towar...Alicia, I love this post. I definitely lean towards the thinking of the woman in the article. My kids are free to roam our neighborhood, walk to the library without me, even Ethan and Lily, (though, not Lily by herself) and my big girls can walk to and from school by themselves. <BR/><BR/>I recently had a discussion with my mom about the paranoia that kids will get kidnapped or abused or hit by a car. We came to the same conclusion, we live in a world where media is constant and the media loves to give us the negative headlines. I don't believe that we are in more danger now than ever before, I believe we are in a more media driven world.<BR/><BR/>Of course, we as parents should be cautious and careful in rearing our children, but in moderation. I think it is really important to let our kids experience the negative as well as the positive so that they can make informed choices as they grow. After all, we won't be there with them forever, will we?Marilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06498765643079748671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-32119817477793160022008-09-28T20:54:00.000-07:002008-09-28T20:54:00.000-07:00like this post Alicia. it made me think. I wish ...like this post Alicia. it made me think. I wish my kids lived in the world that we lived in when we were growing up. I have let them ride their bikes to neighborhood friends' houses, but I am a wreck until they call me to tell me they are there.polka dotshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09878925052002199065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-75063604629863553632008-09-26T22:07:00.000-07:002008-09-26T22:07:00.000-07:00I say let them run free!!!!!!!!!!!No, I am as paro...I say let them run free!!!!!!!!!!!<BR/><BR/>No, I am as paronoid as you are my friend!<BR/>I was followed by a old guy, when I was a teenager walking home from school! Scarey! Luckily, I ran to someones house I knew!<BR/><BR/>Teach your children to be safe! My mom taught us never to get in the car with someone. Even if we know them. She had a code word. She told us that she would tell the person the code word....then we could trust them.<BR/>Ofcourse, growing up in SoCal. You had to be procautionary!<BR/>I talk to my kids all the time. They probably know too much!Ms. Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900843940361356697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-89641928121653387612008-09-26T08:09:00.000-07:002008-09-26T08:09:00.000-07:00I completely agree with Noelle's comment about bei...I completely agree with Noelle's comment about being more afraid of what's on the computers than what's outside!! I feel that way too.<BR/><BR/>I am so hesitant to say anything on this subject since my kids are so young, and I haven't had to choose to let them walk to a friend's house and play outside by themselves. However, I am already much more relaxed than my husband in this area and I have a feeling it's going to continue that way as our kids get older. At the store, I let Addie wander around, sometimes moving to the next aisle without her. Usually at the park I turn my back or let her wander out of site, and I know people (my husband) that will not do that under any cicumstances. Maybe this makes me "relaxed", but maybe it just makes me the mom of the naughty kid who is terrorizing the kids and tearing apart the store.<BR/><BR/>That being said, I <I>definitely</I> think everyone should raise their kids the way that's best for them. I see myself in the future being able to let them walk to friends' houses and ride the bus and let them experience things by themselves.andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08391887283343395293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-44063903319650922022008-09-26T05:59:00.000-07:002008-09-26T05:59:00.000-07:00This is a good question. It always blew me away i...This is a good question. It always blew me away in Hong Kong how you would see kids from the age of 7 and older cruising all around town (as big as NYC)on the subway and buses. I think there it's probably safe, I don't know about NYC. I don't think I'd do it.blindbloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02951954880312482857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-32492906034447025602008-09-25T20:50:00.000-07:002008-09-25T20:50:00.000-07:00i was shocked by the age of the child but i love t...i was shocked by the age of the child but i love that the lady let her son did this. i would have allowed it if it were brigham and a best friend. buddy system, you know? i have many friends in my ward who i know openly talk about the fact that i allow brig and sam to ride their bikes home from school all alone. it's about 10 blocks. i have talked to them about abduction. i have talked to them about what to do if people come up to them. i feel like they have more ability to deal with a situtaion like that beucase we have talked about it. i actually feel they are safer riding their bikes alone than on the bus, stuck on those stupid things with 6 graders making out in the back seat. niiiiiice. <BR/>i have a personal opinion that childhood obesity can be directly corrolated with our generation and our inablility to allow our children the freedoms we had as children. but i don't let my kids go running all willy nilly over the neighborhood like i was allowed to do. i must know where they are, who they are with and try as much as possible to make that all happen in my front yard. i am honestly more afraid of what my kids will find on their friends computers than what will happen outside on our street. play on kids. play on.Noellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12270526703912355952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-6052336646676264992008-09-25T17:09:00.000-07:002008-09-25T17:09:00.000-07:00I am super paranoid...my poor children. I think it...I am super paranoid...my poor children. I think it is always good to error on the side of caution when it comes to the safety of children. I don't think the world is any more dangerous than it used to be...I just think we hear about every single thing because of modern technology...internet, cell phones, 24 hour cable news, cell phone cameras, etc.[M]https://www.blogger.com/profile/10905959631840814165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-62247603354805947182008-09-25T11:21:00.000-07:002008-09-25T11:21:00.000-07:00I never in a million years thought I would let my ...I never in a million years thought I would let my kids walk home from school. But now, there's two of them and they have been walking home together for a few weeks now. I feel a lot of pride in the fact that they; find each other, stick together, and "find their way home." <BR/><BR/>We can't protect our kids from everything, I know that. But we can decide what we think is acceptable for them and what isn't. My older two walk home from school now, but the rules may be different for my younger two. It's our jobs to decide what we think is best for each child. It will always change, because their environment, and their capabilities will always change.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13092997049348376697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-33248535549093892412008-09-25T08:58:00.000-07:002008-09-25T08:58:00.000-07:00Yeah, I'm the paranoid one. No matter how many tim...Yeah, I'm the paranoid one. No matter how many times I try to let my guard down and let my kids do just a little more...that sneaky "what if?" sneaks into my brain. I can't stop worrying that the one time I let go, will be the one time MY kids get hurt. I don't know...this is a fine line, but I agree with Michelle. We need to be careful to not judge other parents even though it's so easy to do, what's right for one isn't always right for another. <BR/><BR/>You know what's interesting, though? My parents were the ones who let us kids roam the neighborhood at will and now they say they'd never be that easy-going about it if they were raising their grandchildren today. So, maybe things aren't as bad as we all think they are...maybe the "statistics" she sited make it look better than we think it is...but I also believe in the Second Coming and the signs that have been foretold by our prophets, that it's just going to get much worse before it gets better. So, even though I believe in optimism and being grateful for this wonderful world we have to live in, I also believe in a little bit of cautiousness too. Okay, maybe a little more than a little bit, but better safe than sorry...right? Just a thought...Shaylahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12854126432564431357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-62357709983671023232008-09-25T08:52:00.000-07:002008-09-25T08:52:00.000-07:00I am way more paranoid than my parents were. When ...I am way more paranoid than my parents were. When I remember being about 4 and having free reign of my parent's farm. My kids are little now, but I can see myself having serious overprotective issues.Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18043384640438055836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-54908791578692720872008-09-25T08:34:00.000-07:002008-09-25T08:34:00.000-07:00My husband and I grew up very differently. Everyt...My husband and I grew up very differently. Everything he did was watched or controled. I had no rules. I rode my bike until dark all over town, came home and watched HBO, MTV or whatever my parents were watching. My parents trusted that they had taught me what I needed to know to make the right descisions. Now as a parent I think my parents were NUTS, to some degree. <BR/><BR/>I used to be nazi-mommy and he attached at the hip with my kids. If they wanted to play outside I had to be out there too. I have loosened up a bit becasue I could never get anything done. I allow them to play in th front yard with boundaries. I still don't let them walk home from school even though I live RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. I do think we need to give them some form of independence, but it's also hard to let go becasue of all of the "what if's" and "maybes".AOlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15216822282415319496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-1492331870116716732008-09-25T08:29:00.000-07:002008-09-25T08:29:00.000-07:00I am the same way. I don't know if its because I g...I am the same way. I don't know if its because I grew up with a dad that still to this day won't let me cross the street by myself, or if I'm just that way. But I never watch the news because it seems that there is nothing covered but horrible things happening to people, and when its about children it makes me sick. I'm afraid I too, will be way to protective of my kids.Melissa Mae Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09518130577551829848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-63543040127512076372008-09-25T08:27:00.000-07:002008-09-25T08:27:00.000-07:00You really got me thinking on this one. I do thin...You really got me thinking on this one. I do think that we have been forced into this paranoia to shelter our children more than our parents sheltered us. I also think that the media is so negative that it has us scared. I know there are more good people in the world than bad, but still I don't trust any stranger until "I know them" and I think this is because of all the negativity I see in the media. I don't even watch the news anymore and I barely read the paper (except the adds:) because it is such a downer.Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06072020245140615342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-85019586208490780222008-09-25T08:21:00.000-07:002008-09-25T08:21:00.000-07:00Wow I have you hit on my soap box!!! I am one of ...Wow I have you hit on my soap box!!! I am one of those moms that make you gasp! As much as I want to know everything and everywhere my kids are, I have to at some point trust what I have taught them. There is a middle ground in this, but I am sure I haven't found it. Thanks Alicia for making us all think about this. It also remids me to be caeful how I judge others and their parenting. It may not be my way, but it doesn't mean I am more right in how I do it. (Something I try to explain to my husband frequently.)MichelleBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08754216838577720435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193458857872469773.post-24216380341361385732008-09-25T06:45:00.000-07:002008-09-25T06:45:00.000-07:00Great post Alicia! I have wondered about this too...Great post Alicia! I have wondered about this too. Do we just see all the crazy thing more because of our "high tech" world and everything is at our finget tips, we see EVERYTHING that goes on EVERYHERE, so has it always been this bad or do we just hear about it more? <BR/><BR/>It's so hard to know, and I am such a "what if" person. So I shelter like you, but one of these days we are going to have to let them do things or they are going to become one of those weird kids who can't/won't do anything without their mom.....sigh.....motherhood is so hard!Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15908479198223454485noreply@blogger.com