CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
When I was young we had a lot more freedom, not to say bad things never happened or that we never got hurt but chances of a stranger grabbing one of us were much, much less. we ran around in groups of 3,4, 5 or more which helped I suppose.
My mom worked after we were all school aged, but not all moms did back then. I had older brothers & sisters, sounds safer for me than it was, since they were busy doing their own thing most of time and couldn't be bothered with the young 'uns. In the summer we would be out & about pretty much all day. We never really had many problems, our neighborhood was our village, any adult could stop us from doing something stupid, make us spend the rest of the day inside instead of playing if we didn't behave, and even spank the behind of someone else's child if they needed it.
That was then.... this is now. Things are MUCH different!
I've personally taken more than a few children as young as 2 or 3 back to their family after they've wandered off and came to our campsite. Two years ago I jumped into a rather cold (October) lake fully clothed and pulled a 4 (maybe 5) year old that had fallen in at the fishing dock. It took almost 20 minutes to locate her parents, who were sitting around a picnic table on the opposite end of the campground visiting with another couple. The wide eyed look on their faces made up for their apparent lack of appreciation. I think they were too stunned or embarrassed to say much. Hopefully a lesson learned well.
I suppose some people still have a fantasy of living in that simpler time when the neighbors (camping or otherwise) could be trusted to look after their children. The truth is not every neighbor deserves that trust and those of us who can be trusted shouldn't be put in the position of having to save their child from the parent's carelessness or is the word I'm looking for cluelessness?
What will I do to change things? Not much I can do.... but I will be keeping an eye on the young ones just in case their parents are not. We all need to work hard to protect the innocents in our village.
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Our toys:
2003 Damon Ultrasport 3873
(picture on profile)
Boat = ProCraft Fish & Ski
Working our way toward retirement...wishing it was soon.
|
Bit Bucket
Brookings, Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 04/29/2011
View Profile
|
Doug4.7 wrote:Old-Biscuit wrote:Would/Did you let YOUR kids go off like that? Given the awareness today? I did let my 18 & 21 year old daughters go off to NYC on their own.
At 18 and 21 they were legal adults. What about when they were under 10?
We too tended to keep a somewhat tight rein on our children until they got in high school, then gradually tapered off the control as they matured and made good choices.
Just our personal preference...
|
Charltons
Battle Ground, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/06/2012
View Profile
 Offline
|
My kids are 10 and 7. We do not let them run off by themsleves, ride their bikes all over town being gone form sun up and coming home in time for dinner. Unfortunately those days are long gone from when I was a kid and we did just those things. To many predators in the world today with to few consequences for their behavior. Sad to say but those of us who are law abiding are the ones with things to be afraid of......
2012 Dodge Ram 2500 Crew Cab 4X4 TCD
2012 Keystone Sprinter 311BHS
|
Crowe
Billerica, MA USA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/29/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
When I was young I was allowed from a relatively early age to come and go as I pleased within a certain area. If we strayed and got caught there was you-know-what to pay. I my case ALL the moms decided that it takes a village to raise a child and if ANY of us acted up whichever mom witnessed the infraction handled the situation and THEN we faced our OWN mom. That's very different from a parent ignoring a child. Our first time at Myrtle Beach I had to swim out and catch a boy of about 5 who was on a blow-up raft by himself that started to drift way out. Yup, caught in a rip, which I fortunately knew how to get him and me out of. Found his mom, she never said thanks, and completely avoided us at the cg (they were 2 sites over). Quite possible she was embarrassed but still. See that type of thing all the time, everywhere-Disney, grocery store, campgrounds, outdoor venues-you name it. And it's not new. There were plenty of kids growing up whose parents didn't have a clue what they were doing or where they were. Due to modern media we are just more aware of what others are doing. Or not doing as the case may be!
Subscribe to the 3 "L" rule-don't stop livin', lovin' and learnin'
RV-less for now but our spirits are still on the open road.
|
WandaLust2
TN
Senior Member
Joined: 11/14/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Do any parents on these Forums ever admit they let their children (of any age) run wild in the campgrounds? That they really don't know or care where their kids are as they lounge around the fire with a cold one? I'm waiting for the day someone steps forward and not only admits it, but tells us why they do it. 
WandaLust. Retired. Middle TN
Heartland 2011 NorthTrail 28BRS
1993 Ford Dutchman Class-C
|
|
|
Paul Clancy
BC Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 09/16/2005
View Profile
|
I've found little ones playing with my sewer connections - parents who knows where. Sad. Bad parenting is rampant and because I never let mine run wild at the expense of others I guess I'll never understand it. There is no vacation from parenting as long as your children travel with you. Truth be told I think booze and a lack of respect for others is the root cause. When I see a mom call her children off of either hurting themselves or others it warms my heart. Good parents are truly a gift to all. Having said this the real trouble makers are the bad campers who are up late with drunken arguments and raising hell. Also all too common now near weekends. Again a respect issue.
|
FunnyCamper
Southeastern
Senior Member
Joined: 09/29/2011
View Profile
|
a 2 year old should not be alone. period. we aren't talking older kids here.
that mom should be ashamed. makes ya wonder about people for sure. but I have camped over 15 years at least and I haven't seen any little kids alone. so far I have run into good parents taking care of their kids. so far
|
omatty
nashville, tn
New Member
Joined: 04/04/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
this wasn't even a camper. They were just there in a car for the day or however long. Not sure if thats better or worse.
FunnyCamper wrote:we aren't talking older kids here.
exactly! A 2 year old compared to an 18 year old isn't even close to right. At 18 i moved 800 miles from home.
I didn't start this thread to bash on anyones parenting ideas. I just wanted to remind everyone that kids are a gift and we should do our best to protect them.
|
Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
In my era kids (not 2 year olds) were allowed to go and play and return home by dinner. A lot has changed since then and kids cannot be safely be allowed the freedom to explore or just play without adult involvement.
On the other hand our society has developed into a helicopter mom culture that makes parents feel compelled to hover over our kids every move. We never let our kids out of our sight to fail or succeed on there own.
In the end our society is becoming softer,weaker,less independent and a bit too politically correct as a whole. Just my 2 cents.
07'Duramax dually,12'Open Range 399BHS
Hawkshead TPMS,Hensley BD3,Killerbee exhaust brake
Blue Ox Bedsaver,air bags w/compressor
Arvika pin box bike rack,Bak Flip tonneau cover
5500 Onan LP,EMS-HW-50
14'Porta Bote w/8.0 Nissan
Vu Cube 2000,Splendide 2000S
|
FunnyCamper
Southeastern
Senior Member
Joined: 09/29/2011
View Profile
|
omatty wrote:this wasn't even a camper. They were just there in a car for the day or however long. Not sure if thats better or worse.
FunnyCamper wrote:we aren't talking older kids here.
exactly! A 2 year old compared to an 18 year old isn't even close to right. At 18 i moved 800 miles from home.
I didn't start this thread to bash on anyones parenting ideas. I just wanted to remind everyone that kids are a gift and we should do our best to protect them.
probably makes it worse only because if you camp you at least know the surroundings and kinda know who is camping beside you in the area at that time. a 'stop' means you leave your kiddo subject to 'just whatever' but either way being a 2 yr old it just isn't right in any situation.
|
|
|
