NO wonder SO many kids are Snatched these days!!!

Didn't you know it's the new "fad" to let your child run around unsupervised? Of course I'm being sarcastic. It is unreal and terrifying how parents don't supervise their kids these days. I was out in town yesterday and a mother walked in the store with a 6 year old boy. The store was pact with shoppers. She took him to the toy section and turned him loose there so she could go clearance shopping half way across the store. She even dared him to interrupt her for anything. According to her, she had worked so hard all week, and she deserved some shopping time. Of course, I'm a little nosy I made small talk with her for a second, and asked her what she did for a living. In my mind, I'm trying to fathom what possibly could justify you leaving your 6 year old alone in a busy store? Or anywhere for that matter. Her response: I've been with him (her son) all week, and I need a break. Um, ok...If being a mother is that demanding why have a child? I mean I understand needing a break, but shouldn't you consider babysitter's, friends, or family before leaving your child alone? People just blow my mind these days. Needless to say, I said something to a officer right outside the store. It may have been none of my business, but I couldn't in good conscious walk away from this. That little boy needed someone to look out for him.

You are right we have to inform our childtren about the reality that we are reading,to avoid that kind of situations. I prefer to be called pretective mother than irresponsible mother.

I don't understand parents these days. They don't watch their children. They back over them with cars because they don't know where they are and don't bother to make sure they are not behind them. They let them drown in pools, wander the neighborhood by themselves and let them stay up till all hours. I think we've lost our maternal instincts the past 30 or so years. Maybe from all the hormones and additives in our foods, maybe because society has rejected decency. I was over protective but my two boys are in their 20s now and never had the horror of being molested or kidnapped.

Oh, you have really started something with this subject. My ex good friend and I had a big argument about twenty five years ago. She said she would never tell her daughter about bad people in the world and scare her like that. I was telling her, and tring ot explain, that I thought it was important to let children be aware of there being bad people in the world and age appropriately ofcourse teach them safety measures. She totally disagreed. Long story short- Her daughter was raped afew years later and mine never has been. Sad, huh? Then fast forward to when my granddaughter was young and I had guardianship of her. I would make her come inside from being out playing to watch the shows Oprah used to have on this subject. And then we would discuss it later. I think proactive is very important. I have written several articles on ways to keep ourselves and our kids safe. I wonder these days too. With the media and such they want to give us the most horrific stories for the effect I guess. But in reality I think the entire family unit has fallen short. I was brought up in my grandparent's home and taught my address, parent's names, etc. I can remember my grandmother discussing safety measures to me because I was fearful of going out to the garage after dark to get coal. It just takes common sense. Kids are like new slates(blackboard)and we have to mold them and teach the basics. If we don't we are sorry. Parents now days just don't care and do not take parenting that serious. They are selfish and want their life and give little time in many cases to their children. Like that lady a block away that just lets her kid wonder. Obviously she cares alot. Pathetic!!!!

I totally agree with you on this. I don't know whats wrong with people these days. I was taught all the same things as a kid. I live in a predominantly jewish community here in Brooklyn, and also there are lots of other kinds of people here, such as Arabs, Chinese, etc... I do notice that the Arab people do not much watch their children mush and neither do the jewish people. he let their kids run all over the place and do not seem to pay any attention to them. I do notice that any americans watch their kids like a hawk as well as do the chinese and mexicans. It just amazes me the these people do not watch what their kids are doing. We had an incident a while back, where this little jewish kid, he could not have been more then 9 years old, walked home form school by himself, but he never made it home. He was abducted my one of his own and was killed and cut up. It was a horrible story and sadly enough, it happened like 10 blocks from where I live. So, it goes to who that you never know who is who. Always keep an eye on your children and always know where they are. I also believe that every child should be equipped with a cell phone for emergency purposes.

to poredelno time ago we brought up differently. we do not talk to strangers had not had to take anything from strangers and also as you say should not get into foreign cars and to say the names and say where we live. nowadays is not as if you all behave friendly but do not know what what we think. I try to educate their children but definitely not been able to deny them not to talk to strangers they are sociable. certainly everything nowadays comes from upbringing. interesting discussion. nice day!

When I am babysitting or when I have people with kids living with me. I never let the child out of my site outside unless they are with another adult whom I trust. Alot of kids sneak off or saying they are going elsewhere then end up skipping out and going other places just because they know they aren't being watched. Kids should come with GPS chips..lol that way we know where they are at all times.

I remember the good old days where most mums were at home and everyone watched everyone else's kids. It seems like no-one is watching them these days except the wrong people. Kids have computers and TVs in their room, they eat in their room there seems to be a lack of family unity. Kids get run over in driveways or drown in pools because the parents don't know where they are. Parents are too busy to mind out for their little ones. It's such a shame.

I am a protective mom, a doting mom as well and i also do not let them out of my site.. lol that is what i am afraid of - kids lost, or getting snatched. There are parents who just let their children go and being careless... My kids are not allowed to go out of the gate and go to other people's houses. They only get to do that when i am with them. Even when we are at the mall, i put id's on them lol and they are not allowed to let go of my hand..and if ever they did, they only stay where i can still see them.

Wow...that is young to have free reign. I have always been amazed here and there at the way that some parents view their children's freedom. I have had some of my children't friends ride the bus home with my kids and stay for two or three days without as much as a phone call from a parent before. That might not be a huge deal but they had never met me! I would never allow my children away without knowing who they were with and where they were at. I have even been accused of being a little over protective sometimes. If over protective is keeping my children in the yard and meeting other parents...well..I guess I am...lol.

I felt being overprotected all my life. It has its good and bad aspects. Good because my safety and welfare have been watched over all these years. Bad because it made me scared of the outside world to the point that it made me close to being a sociophobic. I believe in balance. Equal amount of restriction and liberty. Wish it was that easy though..

Well, you are not being very protective with your kids or family. This is how you protect them from any harm. Because we know these days...where rampant criminality are side by side... We don't know when crimes happen to us. So we need to be protective to our kids. We don't know what happen from time to time...

I always feel so bad when Kathryn's bus beats me home in the afternoon when I've been out running errands and things like that. But, I have taught her that she is to come into the house and lock the door and not answer it at all until I get into the house. I think it is the safest that way. With that said, I really do think that people can be trusted a lot less than they could be trusted when I was a child and I'm trying to keep that in mind as I'm raising my children.

Frankly, I think some parents are so lenient with their children because they probably had a strict upbringing that they've come to resent, and thus don't push that on their kids. There's a fine line that needs to be toed between being overbearing on your children and too lenient, and it's difficult to maintain that balance. Educating children on being wary of strangers and to be on the lookout for potentially dangerous situations and how to react to them is a good thing to do, especially if the kids are to gain any independence so they don't need to constantly be monitored.

A little boy alone on the next street is terrible, The neighbours should not have to be taken care of the child. If it happens again you should give them mom a good talking to.

Oh, for sure, yes. Parents seem to only think of makeing babies but not taking care of them. Recently in our town a car theif stole the car of a nanny with a 3 year old in it. Seems she got out of the car to help an elderly person who had fallen. Im guessing she left her car running. The car and kid was recovered a few blocks away but it could have turned out much differently. People just dont think. They get their car broke into and true nobody has a right to break into their car but what do they really expect when they leave valuables out in the open? Come on people think. I clean for a living and i work for this guy that owns 2 apt bldgs. I go clean the public areas every wk. There used to be 3-4 families that lived in some of the apts. They used to allow their children to run wild all over the place. As if there were no child abductions ever. i dont understand why they did that. Those same kids did alot of damage to things while they were out in the wild too. Writting on the wall, breaking things and making trash. When they moved out those apts had to be completely remodeled. But iam so glad they are gone.

I was always just like u, Bon. Things are so much worse now that i have grands i want even let them go out w/out me. It's such a shame that kids can't go out in their own yard & be safe but they are not anymore. We had so much freedom when was growing up but that was a long time ago & things sure have changed for the worse. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO U.

I'm an only child and in my late teens and my parents are still overprotective of me! It gets pretty annoying but as the only child in the family, I can see why. I guess now, people are a lot more busy and don't really pay much attention to their kids, that's why some kids just rebel in the streets or wander around. I reckon back in the old days like the mid 1900s, kids could roam anytime and it was as dangerous as it is now. Now, there's predators everywhere! I was walking home 3 years ago from an since skating rink with two of my friends and this creepy man stared at us in the car. He then turned the corner and then just parked there like he was waiting for us to cross the road and walk pass his car. We got scared and walked on the other side on the road. Eventually, he drove away when another lady was walking by. With technology too, predators can now track kids down online and some kids go and meet up with them. It's pretty dangerous in this day and age and we should watch out for our kids.

I grew up in a small town in a different time. I could take my brother to the park for most of the day and mom never had to worry about us. We never had to lock our doors on our house or our cars. I was a very sociable child and made friends with many adults. And I think I am a better person for it. I think it's truly sad that our children have to grow up in an anti social society. And one where fear is the predominant force.

we know that now a days parents takes much care of there children ... and kept them in home after going school ar acedmy ... after doing school work childern have just chance to play with computer ar watch tv ... this give bad effect on children groth if they could not play outside .... becaz sunlight izz also soo much important for kids groth ..... and children will be active in dis way... hope you understand ....