Paranoid mom

I don't think you are being paranoid at all. You can't turn on the news these days without seeing a that a child has been kidnapped or killed in a drive by shooting. There is gang violence almost everywhere these days, and so much more. It really is not safe for children to be allowed out on there own. Any parent that would let a four year old run errands alone is just plain lazy. I can't even imagine. Maybe more people should turn on the news and see what is really going on in the world around them.

LOL, I think you are being a bit paranoid. But the way I look at it is better safe than sorry. My youngest are 7 and 8 and I have a hard time letting them go anywhere on their own too (although I don't mind letting them go to school). I always worry about when they are at their friends places especially if I don't know the parents to well. What are they being exposed to when I am not around and such. I guess it's natural to worry as parents,but we do have to learn to at least loosen the apron strings at some point.

Well... a paranoid mother will always be a paranoid mother.. nothing you can do about it. Ever thought about taking a few self defense lessons. Your mother might feel more comfortable if she knew you knew how to defend yourself. Or tell her you always cary pepper spray, shocker, or something to defend yourself with (a weapon).

I always walked to school when I started public school. I was five. School was close and in those days people looked out for each others' kids - everybody was your parent. Any funny business would have been cut off at the bud and there were a dozen houses I could go to if I was in trouble or frightened. Having said that, a lot of modern communities are not like that. In my neighbourhood the parents take turns walking the kids to school so that they are always chaperoned. And four is way too young to be travelling by themselves.

goodness no you arent being paranoid! you are being a great mom! i hate seeing children walking around by themselves and i always think to myself 'my kids wont ever do that when they get older (they are 2 and 2 months)'. ill take them to school and pick them at their classroom everyday. you just cant be TOO safe in todays world! We just cant take chances with our little ones because there's always someone out to get them or hurt them. maybe im paranoid, but im always watching over my shoulder because you just never know who's around that shouldnt be there! im glad you care enough about your kiddos to be "paranoid".

Great topic. Are you being paranoid, I can't answer as you didn't say how old they are. As for the 4 year olds that you refer to in your statement above, there is no reason on earth that a child that young should be outside unsupervised, let alone running errands for their parents. Each child is different as to when you start to let them have a little more freedom to start to do things on their own. You will know when the time is right to let go of the strings a little and your child will let you know also. In todays world though, you really can't be to careful. Remember to ask your children questions and keep them informed of the dangers out there, not to scare them but to keep them informed.

IHi Threena, wlecome to mylot! I don't think you are being paranoid just maybe a little too cautious. There is a nasty world out there but I would let them get used to it a tiny bit at a time, even tho' as mum watching it can be terrifying. My 7 year old has Autism, ADHD and suspected Dyspraxia but manages the bus home from school every night - it's just under a mile and gives him a feeling of independance. I do not let them play out on the street, just in the garden, beach or play park, I watch but try to give him and his brother (3 years) as muchspace as I can but still be there for them. We live in a coastal village which would be perfectly safe if it were not for the holiday makers - now 10 months of the year and the roads. When I was a kids we all played out as long as our mums knew where we were and no-one ever walked the last bit home alone although we were able to be alone on our way to a friends house because we were expectd.

No, you are not paranoid. You are a protective mom. And in my vocabulary, protective is a good thing! My partner think that I am paranoid sometimes too. But I have seven children! Statically, I have a increased chance of loosing one of my kid! I have already faced one of my children being nearly killed and hospitalized for two weeks, put in a body cast for two months, not allowed to walk for an additional two months, and then have to learn to walk all over again...but the babysitter! And to make matters worse, the babysitter was my brother! Do I trust anyone with my kids? Hmmm...one person that I feel I would never have to call and check on the kids if they were in her care...but she is in Kansas and has not even seen the kids in 6 years. I don't even trust my partner with the children! LOL When I leave, I am constantly calling to check on them asking if he fed them, what they are doing, and if certain things got done, like homework! But I am not gone from them very often. I have been labeled as strict, paranoid, and over protective. But I have only been labeled by those that I find faults in their own parenting. I AM at the school 45 minutes before school lets out so I am the first person by that door and guarantee that my children see me and I see them when they step out that door. And I DO have a password for my kids so if anyone else should ever need to pick them up, they refuse to go with the person even, if they know them, if that person does not know the password! Me...I am not paranoid. I am protective. I can not and will not loose any of my children. I don't know if my heart could survive it!

My kids are 6 and 4. There isn't a lot we let them do on their own. I take him to the bus stop and I pick him up. My neighbor lets her daughter walk home by herself because she thinks I can always bring her home. She doesn't ask if I'll bring her daughter home, she just assumes me or the lady who lives down the road will walk her home. We can't see the bus stop from our houses so who is to say if she will make it home. There are times like this afternoon where I won't be coming home after I pick my son up and I always worry that something will happen to the little girl. She isn't my responsibilty but she needs to be someone's! I think there are parents out there that think children are little adults. That is not the case. Don't send your little kids out by themselves. What if they wonder off? Will they remember how to get home? At some point we do have to let our children do things on their own. We've just started to let my son go out to the patio by himself (I can see him from the front door and the living room window or one of the kitchen windows. He is happy about that and it gives him a sense of pride although he isn't aware that I really haven't taken my eye off of him...lol.

I can't say you are being paranoid on the count of me being the same way. Young children always gets picked up by strangers and never seen again. My children are ages 3 to 10 and they can't go outside without their father or I watching them. My seven year old gets taken to school by me. Also young children, like you mentioned 4 yr. olds, shouldn't be outside alone at all.

No you are never to pariond when it comes to your kids running the streets by themselve or going places by themselves...I see the kids running up and down the streest and i wonder hwere is their parents ,never would I allow a child of mine that young to be walking a busy street ...Glad to see you are a caring parent ...keep up the good work ...

Maybe a little, but that is a mother's job-to worry. Another thing I would like to add is childrens clothing is getting more "Adult" every day. We have a friend with 2 little girls 4 & 6 and we shopped for clothes for them. What child needs a thong? Some of this is just not right.

My kids are 2yrs n 6mths n they are like my eyes to me n wat ever happens i wud never do a crazy thing like that,how can some1 do something like that,I love my kids n want them to be always with me n i will always protect them n get all they want.

even we adults are not sure of the world these days. if we dont let anything happen to our kids then nothing would happen to their lives as well. do you want them to be your shadow for the rest of their lives? we wouldn't allow that, right? a little confidence over ourselves and a lot of advices and guidance to our kids is all that'll take to keep them safe. of course pair it with prayers. kids will always be kids. they learn from experience but if you won't let them then, its like harvesting from a non-fruit bearing tree. dull.

oh, no, no, no, no! we, mothers, can never be paranoid enough specially where our daughters are concerned. i am just like you. my daughter is also 4 yrs. old. and she still has her nanny following her wherever she goes - upon my instruction. specially when there are boy playmates around. better be safe than sorry. i only hope she'll appreciate this paranoia when she's grown.

its ok to be shocked by 4yr olds running errands but the waiting outside school till dismissal part sounds a bit paranoid to me.

I agree, I don't think that children that young should be out wandering the streets by themselves....or running errands...that's way too young!!! My 8-9 and 10 yr olds aren't even allow to run the neighborhood and we live in a small town. You just can't be too careful now-a-days!

It's ok to be paranoid because there are some people who kidnap children and who knows what they are doing to those pitiful kids. I'd like to live near a school too so that I my son doesn't need to ride a school bus to get there, I can walk him to school, a good exercise minus the expenses of the school bus fare.

Sounds like you care, and you take your responcibility seriously! I commend that!

I am totaly the same way, I just heard on the news that a boy was snached not one block from his home after school. I see young kids out on the steets all the time, it makes me wonder if their parents care at all. It drives me crazy, my kids will have to be much older to be able to go somewhere by them selfs. Its just not safe, you are asking for it.