"Free range" parenting may be trending, but it's what I've always done. A new trend will come along, but I'll be sticking with this one. Even if Walker Bragman thinks it's bad.
Well it happened. Yesterday my daughter was out for 5 minutes on her bike and came home crying. It was raining and there was mud and she skidded and fell. Skinned knee. Bleeding. Cleaned it, put on a bandage and she insisted on going straight back out. She was fine.
A basic question that needs answering. What happens to the children who have been bubble wrapped? Perhaps there are University Sociology Departments out there ready to study this question.
As an employer, my observation is that their parents did them no favors. By protecting them, they stifled them, and failed to give them the skills they need to survive. Life is full of risk, and managing risk is a primary skill needed in life. That play ground with a rusty nail taught me important lessons in life, as in how to play, while not getting caught on the rusty nail. It also taught me to go get a hammer, and fix the nail. Both important skills.
May 27, 2023·edited May 27, 2023Liked by Jennifer Sey
One of my earliest memories of independence was being about seven years old and walking around a State fair barefoot and shirtless and filthy with a vendor's pass riding all the rides for free because we were showing livestock there. I always think about that when I worry about my kid wandering around now. Because I know how smart I was then and I know he is too.
It is the difference between a potted plant and one in the ground.
I was six (63 years ago) when my parents took us to Catalina island and they gave me some money and let me walk by myself from the hotel to a gift store and buy a trinket, this little wooden apple that had a little tea set inside with the date 1961 printed on it.
I still remember that and the complete freedom I had at home playing with friends sunup to sundown with very little supervision. I loved that sense of independence.
There was zero chance I would ever do that with my kids or with grandkids now. Pedophiles roam this earth, they’re everywhere, and drunks driving in the middle of the day, kids are not safe wandering free, I don’t care how much independence this fosters, sorry. There are other ways to provide a happy, self guided childhood that satiates a kids curiosity. Letting them roam free on a bike is very dangerous. It’s not the same world as when we were kids.
Why do we have to "label " what has always been good parenting. ie teaching children how to be responsible self sufficient adults able to cope with the reality of life as it ultimately is.
We can already see the trauma of many young adults who cannot cope with what life is already tossing their direction.
I do hope there are enough self sufficient young adults in our population to pull society thorough
Maybe you have a no links policy on you Substack. I thought, though, a link to your protagonist here would have helped.
I suppose rather than go out and play on a bike his kids have to with him to the local climate change rally. He will instruct them in the points they never grasped so that they are better brought up than the neighbours. Intellectual snobbery and all other sorts of snobbery is a feature of the liberal left. Equality is really part of it.
I hope to God there are more parents like you today. The batch that gave every child a prize and fought every battle for their child has ruined generations. Good luck with your new life in Colorado.
Well it happened. Yesterday my daughter was out for 5 minutes on her bike and came home crying. It was raining and there was mud and she skidded and fell. Skinned knee. Bleeding. Cleaned it, put on a bandage and she insisted on going straight back out. She was fine.
A basic question that needs answering. What happens to the children who have been bubble wrapped? Perhaps there are University Sociology Departments out there ready to study this question.
As an employer, my observation is that their parents did them no favors. By protecting them, they stifled them, and failed to give them the skills they need to survive. Life is full of risk, and managing risk is a primary skill needed in life. That play ground with a rusty nail taught me important lessons in life, as in how to play, while not getting caught on the rusty nail. It also taught me to go get a hammer, and fix the nail. Both important skills.
Did your son paint Astro Boy? I'm a huge fan!
One of my earliest memories of independence was being about seven years old and walking around a State fair barefoot and shirtless and filthy with a vendor's pass riding all the rides for free because we were showing livestock there. I always think about that when I worry about my kid wandering around now. Because I know how smart I was then and I know he is too.
It is the difference between a potted plant and one in the ground.
It’s okay for kids to push the boundaries … otherwise we are going to have a world of people afraid to go outside and BREATHE #BringbacktheWarriors
and then, this happened: https://twitter.com/k7vin/status/1656263959232626688?s=46&t=8IEgWNxqkY3Qrgvi19m7FA
Love the art!
This article, my friend, should be your new resume!
I was six (63 years ago) when my parents took us to Catalina island and they gave me some money and let me walk by myself from the hotel to a gift store and buy a trinket, this little wooden apple that had a little tea set inside with the date 1961 printed on it.
I still remember that and the complete freedom I had at home playing with friends sunup to sundown with very little supervision. I loved that sense of independence.
There was zero chance I would ever do that with my kids or with grandkids now. Pedophiles roam this earth, they’re everywhere, and drunks driving in the middle of the day, kids are not safe wandering free, I don’t care how much independence this fosters, sorry. There are other ways to provide a happy, self guided childhood that satiates a kids curiosity. Letting them roam free on a bike is very dangerous. It’s not the same world as when we were kids.
Every word of this. Bullseye!
Why do we have to "label " what has always been good parenting. ie teaching children how to be responsible self sufficient adults able to cope with the reality of life as it ultimately is.
We can already see the trauma of many young adults who cannot cope with what life is already tossing their direction.
I do hope there are enough self sufficient young adults in our population to pull society thorough
Wonderful way to raise kids. This grandpa fully approves!
Great read! Bravo!
Maybe you have a no links policy on you Substack. I thought, though, a link to your protagonist here would have helped.
I suppose rather than go out and play on a bike his kids have to with him to the local climate change rally. He will instruct them in the points they never grasped so that they are better brought up than the neighbours. Intellectual snobbery and all other sorts of snobbery is a feature of the liberal left. Equality is really part of it.
Yay, Jen! What were they talking about when they said, “child labor”?
I hope to God there are more parents like you today. The batch that gave every child a prize and fought every battle for their child has ruined generations. Good luck with your new life in Colorado.