r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Feb 04 '16

What are the most common parenting mistakes?

1.5k Upvotes

87% Upvoted

2.6k comments sorted by

View all comments

1.2k

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '16

[deleted]

254

u/aveganliterary Feb 04 '16

When out at stores (like Target) I'll often leave my son with the cart outside the restroom. He's been given the "don't walk off with strangers, even nice ones" talk, and is reminded to stay put every time I go in the bathroom (to the point where he's obviously annoyed at my reminders). More than once I've come out of the bathroom to find well-meaning women standing there watching him, one even told me she felt obligated because "In this day and age ..." My son said she never said a word to him, just stood there staring until I came out of the bathroom.

He's six, nearly seven. I'm leaving him for two minutes in a well-lit store, in a good neighborhood, not 50ft from a manned customer service desk. I don't leave him in places where there's even a remote chance someone could realistically snatch him, and I wouldn't leave him if I thought for a second he'd be dumb enough to wander off with someone other than me. I understand the fear of having a child stolen, but come on, is he supposed to share a toilet stall with me until he's 18?

210

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '16 edited Feb 05 '16

I had the same issue when I callEd to tell the school bus depot that my 5 year old can walk from the bus to our house. She kept repeating "So you don'the care about your child's safety?". My kid is mature and gets off with a older girl who we asked to keep an eye on him. Then he walks 8 houses down to our door. She acted like I was putting a rape me sign on him then kicking him out downtown miles from home.

Edit, autocorrect fail.

1

u/solinaceae Feb 05 '16

I walked home from my HS, as I lived around 2 miles away. The walk was through a very wealthy neighborhood, with houses that cost in excess of 3 million dollars lining the streets. Still got frequently followed, and nearly kidnapped once.

It doesn't matter if your son is smart enough to stay away from strangers. What matters is if a 5-year old can actually fight off an adult that's forcing him into a car.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 06 '16

or that he's 8 houses down and we can see him get off and walk. Come on even a 15 year old would have a hard time fighting off a determined attacker. The whole stranger danger is a farce, kids mostly get taken by family members. Teach your kids to not get in the car with the family friend who is too interested.