Does anyone watch their children?

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   lifedeferredposted 14 years ago

   I have a question. Are their parents who watch what their children are doing while outside? Does anyone at least check-up on them every so often? I am a busy mom, I work full time and when I get home I am exhausted. The last thing I want to do is run outside evry few minutes checking on my son, but I do. Since we bought our home about a year ago, we have yet to see any parents outside. Our street is a dead-end, that does not mean that there are never cars. My husband and I have witnessed kids fighting, vandalizing an empty house across the street, tearing up other peoples' property, then they come into our yard and try to do the same. We live in a great neighborhood but we are left frustrated and asking ourselves...Where are the parents?

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      Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      And you call it a great neighborhood? Umm, ok, to each their own...

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         lifedeferredposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yes you are right. I mean great as in " nice looking" I guess. Other things obviously lacking.

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         1. 67

            Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I would just move to a nicer neighborhood. But then you said you just bought the house - this really greatly complicates the things nowadays - but move is definitely something worth considering

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            rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            sometimes the nice looking, upscale neighborhoods have many working parents and there is not a lot of supervision. don't let how a neighborhood looks fool you, some of the meanest, worst kids come from very upscale neighborhoods.
            
            I usually see parents near by or with their young children. there have been times when I'm out that I have to ask a child, where is your parent? the little girl was told by her mother to go sit and save a table at a restaurant. I'm sure she thought I looked safe and the other man sitting nearby, but come on, you don't leave your young child alone while you're ordering and picking up the food out of eyesight.

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   2. 69

      trish1048posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I understand exactly how you feel, lifedeferred.  My 8 yr old granddaughter loves being outside, and I am constantly worried.  Between what's on the news and plus the fact I watch true crime shows anyway, it's a very scary world out there.  When I'm watching her,  I do one of two things, either as you say, run outside every ten minutes or so, or, I sit outside the whole time she's out.  All I want is her within shouting distance, which doesn't give her much freedom.  I realize at some point you have to allow children freedoms, and my intent is not to create a social cripple with my somewhat irrational fears, but neither do I want her roaming the streets.  To her credit, she knows what her limitations are when she's outside, and she does abide by them.
      As for other children, I haven't a clue as to how their parents are raising them.

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      Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      The growing level of ignorance is becoming detrimental. It's happening more and more. Ignorant parents breeding ignorant children.
      
      Just what society really needs.

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      H.C Porterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I don't let my children out of my sight. I too live in a great neighborhood-but even great neighborhoods can have bad in them. Have you heard of the Safe Neighborhood Program Available for cell phones, or the Neighborhood Watch Dog site? Go to one of them, and type in your address, it will map out all peoples convicted of a sex crime in your area. I checked them a few months ago, just to see if there is any evil lurking around, and what I found out is; a block from where my home is, where my children play outside and many other children ride bikes and play, we have a man who has been convicted and has served time for Aggravated Sexual Assault on a Child- Scared the crap out of me...Now a days, the kids are always close-and the front gate is always locked... (You never know what can happen when you turn away to go get a drink of water or to fold some laundry), a few seconds is all anyone needs to inflict harm on a family and devastate your world. Props to you for keeping an eye on your son!

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   Lily Roseposted 14 years ago

   Well, mine are only 3 and 5, so they don't go outside without me.  I can relate somewhat to what you are saying because I am in constant amazament almost everywhere I go at the lack of parental supervision of some kids, even small ones.  Maybe I'm too uptight, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.  I have a background in law enforcement and I've seen bad things happen to kids.  It seems that some parents just are completely ignorant as to the potential dangers - how could they not care?  I have no idea!
   
   I actually had a complete stranger stop in the parking lot of my grocery store recently to commend me for holding my 5 year-olds hand while crossing the parking lot from the store to my car.  The lady claimed that I'm the first mom she's seen do that - now that's sad.  It made me feel good, but I would never even think of not holding my kids' hands when crossing a street or anywhere where the potential of danger is there.

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   1. 48

      meznahposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      In fact because my busnise i have no time to watch  theme

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3. 57

   Healthy Living Isposted 14 years ago

   Great Post

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4. 86

   wychicposted 14 years ago

   Some kids that don't look like they're being supervised might still be...most of the time I sit outside with my son, but sometimes I'll come inside for a bit while he plays and keep an eye on him through the sliding glass door. That said, I also see a lot of kids around that obviously have no adult watching at all...a couple of our neighbors habitually leave 2-year-olds in the care of 6- and 8-year-olds, and there is a group of boys -- the oldest of whom is probably 8 -- that are just plain trouble. If they're out my son comes inside, and I watch my patio plants and things very closely until they move on. If I could even determine where some of these kids live I'm sure my inquiries would meet the same kind of indifference they're already showing so clearly in the way they raise their kids.

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