My mom was very strict with me, I try to be a bit less strict, but my mom's voice comes from my mouth sometimes and I think she looks down and smiles when that happens.... or laughes her ass off...either way is ok with me.

I told her to wait for the neighbor kids to get and they could all go together as a group. She doesn't know... that I know they won't be home til late now thats mean

my mom lives about a half mile away.. she DOES laugh her ass off when she comes in my house sometimes and hears me shouting up the stairs.. "i swear to god!! if you break that window and fall out of it and break your necks i am going to beat your butts!!!"

its ok.. my kids laugh at me when i say it too... lol

My oldest was the same age when she wanted to walk to school by herself. I let her, but before I talked to everyone in the businesses on her route, very small neighborhood, as well as the 3 crossing guards had my phone number. What my daughter doesn't know is I followed her the whole way to make sure. She's 21 now and still doesn't know I followed her.

I knew she was ready and I knew everyone in my neighborhood so I felt comfortable she was safe. They're going to think you are horrible, but they always get over it. Mine did.

I've had this issue with my daughter only it was going to the movies without an adult. She did the whole screaming, crying, begging, "but everyone else does" bit. I let her simmer and then the next day we talked. I explained to her that although I TRUSTED HER I did not trust other people. That got her attention real quick. We talked about what happens when strangers are around and about some things we had heard on the news or through school. We still have our moments but she seems to understand now and doesn't throw a fit. I even heard her on the phone the other day say "is your Mom going to be there?" See, they do listen!!!

thats awesome to hear. And that's exactly what I was trying to get across to her. I do trust HER. I don't however trust the other people wandering around out there looking for little girls alone in a park... to me she's like a sitting duck out there.

Being a "mean mom" is your job...
eventually you two will be best friends and she'll be the same kind of mean to your grand-daughter!

It is always hard limiting the freedom of your child because of the evilness of strangers but is so much easier than trying to apology for what happen to them because you allowed them to be vunerable. While it is not reasonable to protect them from everything I think you were VERY wise not to let a child (of either sex) go to a public park alone. Offenders know parents want to believe their kids are safe and talk about how easy it is to access children in parks, stores, resturants, stadiums, or even hanging around school grounds when their parents think that somebody, everybody, anybody would step in if they are doing something with their kid. The thing these creeps count on is most people even if they see a kid resisting an adult they will mind their own bussiness, don't want to babysit, be more fearful of being hurt themselves, or figure the kid is just being a brat and let them do as they please. What is even more frusterateing is later those same people often lie about what they did, or did not, see making it even harder to convict these monsters. I would also impart that size of community, how many people you know, or even how many people you implore to watch out for your child rarely is it difficult for these rotten apples to pass. It is absolutely a myth that the people who hurt children are strangers to the parent.

In this state, unattended minors MUST be at least 12yrs old, or it is considered child neglect. Ck your state's laws.

Hell, no. You're not mean. You're smart.

I have a park 2 blocks from me. When my child was 10, they couldn't go there without me. They weren't even allowed off of our side of the street.

mean ...no

overprotective.....that is up to you...


i, for one, am a "Skinnerist"

In my nieghborhood kids just wander around free all day... of all ages. So my daughter feels it should OK for her to do so as well.

lol my nieghbors make fun of me because I won't let her go off the block by herself let alone go three blocks away. Their kids run around all day long. The oldest is 6 and they just got him an electric scooter and he just runs the neighborhood

lol my nieghbors make fun of me because I won't let her go off the block by herself let alone go three blocks away. Their kids run around all day long. The oldest is 6 and they just got him an electric scooter and he just runs the neighborhood

and it'll be you saying " come on now the kid is ten and its just down the street!" that's how my mom did me:)

i think you're being a mom. id feel the same way. if i cant see them, its too far! call me mean anyday but at least they are around for me to hear about it!!!

I think ya did the right thing hun... your city is ALOT bigger then mine.. Like Izzie I live in a very rural part of kansas... everyone knows everyone... if my 10 year old is at the park down the street with her friends and shes doing something wrong my phone rings... shes always amazed how i know everything....


i wouldnt let her go to the park alone here or anywhere else...

your being a good momma...and someone else said someday youll be the best of friends.. thats SO TRUE.. i have an 18 year old daughter who I was way overprotective with and today she is a well rounded ..amazing young woman... and one of my closest friends....

I don't think you're being too mean or overprotective. However, she is getting to an age where this is going to become more and more of an issue and eventually, you're going to have to figure out a solution. So, start figuring out solutions, ground rules, etc now. One thing I did with my son was a cell phone (at about 11, yikes!), I put him on my family plan for $10 a month. But, he was required to call before he left home, when he arrived at his destination, periodically while there, and before he left. Yeah, a lot of phone calls but I explained that this way, if something did happen, I'd know where and when to start looking. There were other ground rules too but that was a biggie for my own peace of mind.

Wow, that is some really good advice!!