3 ms·

Ah, free-range parents. Or as we used to call them, parents.

by unavoidable 12y ago

malkia 12y ago
Pleasure to meet you! I "progressed" from a "free-range" kid to a "closed-range helicopter parent".
- cesarbs 12y ago
  Why? Honest question. I was very sheltered as a child and today I try not to be so with my daughter, because I know the consequences of growing up being sheltered. I really push for her to be independent, to deal with her own problems, and to go through the pain/sadness without much caressing when something bad happens (say, she hurts herself while playing and it's not really a major injury that requires going to the hospital).
  - malkia 12y ago
    Because I need to become a better parent I guess, or maybe different one. I possibly do it, and this is simply - not letting him go free on the street while we cross it, in the parking, and always making sure I can see him while he's playing at the playground, and at the same time I so much want to tell him my favourite story how me and my one year older cousin walked 25 kilometers from one city to another just to get my plastic truck (we were 5-6 years old). I'm afraid, because I've succumbed to the peer pressure, media, and let myself just go this route that everyone around takes, or at least shows that it takes. I want him to roam free, but then if something happens, even if it's not a big deal, I'll feel bad, and I won't be strong enough to reply to all questions/answers/attitude from everyone else. He really has much more freedom back in Bulgaria where he goes every summer...
    - mod 12y ago
      I want to raise my kids in a rural setting to avoid all of this. I imagine in most rural settings the community attitude would be the opposite of what you mentioned.
  - prawn 12y ago
    I think it's because for something so infinitely valuable to you, even the tiniest risk is something you want to eliminate to the best of your ability. I am not unhappy to see my toddler have accidents only likely to result in a graze/scratch/bump because those teach lessons without risk. But, at that age at least, other things (climbing recklessly, head first over things, etc) I'm less comfortable with. Perhaps over time, parents have become ever more aware of just how many low-chance dangers there are.
    - malkia 12y ago
      I've seen friends once they have the second, third... N-th :) child they become less worried about dangers, roaming, etc.

Ah, free-range parents. Or as we used to call them, parents.

malkia 12y ago

Pleasure to meet you! I "progressed" from a "free-range" kid to a "closed-range helicopter parent".

cesarbs 12y ago
Why? Honest question. I was very sheltered as a child and today I try not to be so with my daughter, because I know the consequences of growing up being sheltered. I really push for her to be independent, to deal with her own problems, and to go through the pain/sadness without much caressing when something bad happens (say, she hurts herself while playing and it's not really a major injury that requires going to the hospital).
- malkia 12y ago
  Because I need to become a better parent I guess, or maybe different one. I possibly do it, and this is simply - not letting him go free on the street while we cross it, in the parking, and always making sure I can see him while he's playing at the playground, and at the same time I so much want to tell him my favourite story how me and my one year older cousin walked 25 kilometers from one city to another just to get my plastic truck (we were 5-6 years old). I'm afraid, because I've succumbed to the peer pressure, media, and let myself just go this route that everyone around takes, or at least shows that it takes. I want him to roam free, but then if something happens, even if it's not a big deal, I'll feel bad, and I won't be strong enough to reply to all questions/answers/attitude from everyone else. He really has much more freedom back in Bulgaria where he goes every summer...
  - mod 12y ago
    I want to raise my kids in a rural setting to avoid all of this. I imagine in most rural settings the community attitude would be the opposite of what you mentioned.
- prawn 12y ago
  I think it's because for something so infinitely valuable to you, even the tiniest risk is something you want to eliminate to the best of your ability. I am not unhappy to see my toddler have accidents only likely to result in a graze/scratch/bump because those teach lessons without risk. But, at that age at least, other things (climbing recklessly, head first over things, etc) I'm less comfortable with. Perhaps over time, parents have become ever more aware of just how many low-chance dangers there are.
  - malkia 12y ago
    I've seen friends once they have the second, third... N-th :) child they become less worried about dangers, roaming, etc.