> Why did you have to be a 24/7 presence for your kids? 1) Like most kids here, my 5 had nowhere to go. They step out of the house and in every direction is a

> Why did you have to be a 24/7 presence for your kids? 1) Like most kids here, my 5 had nowhere to go. They step out of the house and in every direction is a road and a trespassing risk. What there wasn't: A large selection of (or any) places kids could safely reach and congregate every day without a risk of harm by cars or misguided adults (like police). 2) My wife and I risked arrest if my kids were seen without a supervising adult. Like all the other parents. > Your parents let you roam everywhere and that worked fine? It didn't just work fine, it was where most of my critical growth happened. It's where I learned to sort problems, work with peers, concoct and carry out plans, develop new interests based on actual experiences and navigate an endless array of complex situations. It's where I developed the foundations that nurture mental health. > The only thing kids actually require is food, water, and shelter. If this is all kids have then they are likely experiencing neglect.