[NCLR1]

My wife usually picks up our oldest son up from school (he's in 2nd grade), but I started a new schedule at work so I have been picking him up. First of all, why am I picking him up? It's less than half a mile to walk and it not's snowing or up hill. Also, it looked like 80% of the other kids were getting picked up too. I'm only 30 but when I was in school no one got picked up. I asked my wife why we pick him up and she said "he's only eight". I walked to school in kindergarten.

I feel sorry for all the boys on our street too. They are all over supervised. They range in ages from 6-12. Those were the best times when I was a kid. As long as I was home for dinner than all was well.

Are we too over protective as a society? I don't know, what I do know is that their are some weirdos out there.

Sorry if this is way off base.

[JAWS]

Personally I blame the media. All you see and hear is the violence. It scares the crap out of you and makes it seem that it everywhere all the time. Statistically speaking, it isn't any worse than it ever was, you just have it rubbed in your face much more often. I truly belive that we have gone way overboard for our kids. If the distance that they walk is reasonable, then why not? I would not allow my wife to take my daughter to school unless it was due to weather. She rode the school bus or rode with friends. The pressure is on to get them a car as soon as possible. This is in spite of the fact that school busses are usually available. Kids today feel that they are entitled to have a very good car as soon as they can qualify for the license. I think that can be a mistake at times. I really dislike where our country is going these days.

rant...
Joe

[124]

Here, here to that. Make him walk...and give him a good wack in the back of the head on his way out. He'll earn it sometime that day...haha.

With that said, I take every opportunity to make my 4 yr old do it the hard way. If he figures out a better, easier way good for him...

Except for the brand new bike I got for him. Bikes will always be a soft spot... Lol.

[gal8x]

Those were the best times when I was a kid. As long as I was home for dinner than all was well.

Dude you are not off base. when i was a kid i would ride the bus home, grab a fast bite, pickup a shotgun or 22, jump on an SL70 and vanish. back by dark was the rule.

[NCLR1]

I am the same way. A perfect relating story is kick starting. I ALWAYS ensure my son starts his bike each and every time, I stress it even more after he dumps it. How are they ever going to learn if we do it for them or get it for them or solve it for them.

Joe, you are right about the media. When was the last time you heard that Billy Thompson ate a worm at recess? Tommy and Johnny caught 15 fish in the creek behind Miller's barn? Mikey jumped his first double today? These are the stories I am interested in and I hope are apart of my boy's lives. I want to know that they caught the guy that kidnaps young boys and makes them slaves but I don't care about what kind of car he drove in 1987 and his favorite comic book was Green Lantern.

[NCLR1]

Those were the best times when I was a kid. As long as I was home for dinner than all was well.

Dude you are not off base. when i was a kid i would ride the bus home, grab a fast bite, pickup a shotgun or 22, jump on an SL70 and vanish. back by dark was the rule.

I blame it on CA a lot when I rant to my wife. But, I am seeing it where I grew up back in Ohio too. I feel like most of the parents act the way they do out here because it's "the thing to do".

[DiagTech]

That's funny, but you didn't hear about this stuff when we were kids either, although I'm sure it was happening just as much.

I remember doing alot of stupid stuff and wonder how I made it to adulthood without injury, but I did. I also remember the first new car my dad bought. It was a 1973 Ford Country Squire station wagon. It had the magnetic checker board option with the flip up rear seats. Those were the days.

I also remember riding my bike or taking the bus to school. It's only been recently I was able to talk my wife into letting (forcing) our kids (daughter 15 and son 9) into the bus. I don't see anything wrong with walking or riding the bus.

I just bought my son a new 70 a few months ago. I didn't buy him an E-start for a good reason. I wanted him to know how to start it if it wasn't there. He asked why mine was and his wasn't. I just told him, I already know what to do if my electric start fails. He actually seemed satisfied with that answer and seems just fine kick starting his bike. He'll learn how to do his own oil change this weekend.

[gal8x]

Those were the best times when I was a kid. As long as I was home for dinner than all was well.

Dude you are not off base. when i was a kid i would ride the bus home, grab a fast bite, pickup a shotgun or 22, jump on an SL70 and vanish. back by dark was the rule.

I blame it on CA a lot when I rant to my wife. But, I am seeing it where I grew up back in Ohio too. I feel like most of the parents act the way they do out here because it's "the thing to do".

Our society has changed… not I think for the better.

While watching a TV program that My now X girlfriend and I were watching a program that had a lot of early 1938-43 commercials, she commented that there had to have been a high suicide rate in that culture because of the “Father knows best” / “Leave it to Beaver” style of that era. She was right, but for the wrong reason. The spike in the suicide rate was the result of men who could not participate in the (military) defense of our country and the world.

Today the press just wants attention, the right and the left blame each other. And law makers think “more is better”, and the right thing to do is “politically correct”.

End of rant.

[Beast Rider]

Tony, I agree with what you are saying but picking your boy up from school gives you a little special one on one time and also time for the other kids to see his Dad picking him up.(boys are real proud of their Dads) My boys loved it when we picked them up, sometimes we talked about school stuff, sometimes we looked for bugs and sometimes we picked up trash and discussed how everyone needs to take pride in their neighborhood. When they went to college we no longer walked them home....Just joking...tapered off around 5th grade. Enjoy them, they grow up too fast.

[max]

you could walk to school? we were so poor we didnt have feet! We always walked, untill the dreaded Busing kids to different parts of town to segragate the schools. You have to admit,nobody ever came into your school & started shooting, at least not at mine. So I guess i dont agree,we have lost that Mayberry type of environment for kids in most parts of the country. Max

[Motomom]

I had to go back and look at where you were from but all it said was "CA". Don't know how safe your area is or if you even have sidewalks that are safe for him to walk. But it's just not safe unless there are numbers and an adult along.

Our area grew up so fast they never put in sidewalks so walking on the road is not an option. I did a check through our police department and it's scary the amount of pedophiles registered within a few miles of the school and our residence. There is no way I would ever let my kids walk anywhere by themselves until the were older and knew what to do. Check your area. Most police departments offer that service.

Take the time with him as special. You can talk about his day or yours. It's together time. I found that at this was the time they felt comfortable enough to ask the hard questions. Like when they get their first girlfriend (or boyfriend) what to do. Some of those question you really have to bite your tongue so you don't laugh at them and make them feel bad.

[NCLR1]

I appreciate all the different opinions. There are pros and cons for all sides I guess.

[msudawg]

Regarding the overprotecting, I can relate to that as it pertains to motorcycles. I have three kids, 4 to 9, and each one of them has a motorcycle. The looks I get from our neighbors is amazing. The comments like "you are crazy" "I would never put my kid on a bike". I have talked to several parents and suggested they get a bike so we could ALL go riding and have an absolute blast. NOPE, they look at me like I am a freak. My kids have on every piece of safety gear that is made when they ride. The times we ride together will be special in my heart and in my kids for years and years to come. How many kids get to see their dad bust his ARSE right in front of them and just get back up and dust off. What a memory thirty years from now.

[djh65]

We were just talking about this last night. I was remembering all the things we did without supervision. For my 5th birthday us 4 boys played at the creek alone all day. Came home when Mom honked the horn. I remember riding my bike to the store and the local airport and hanging out in the hanger. Now as sad as it is I can't imagine letting my kids do it. Now at 8 and 9 I let them play outside as much as they want. I agree with the kick starter also. Can't start it can't ride it. Put the few sicko's in jail forever and be done with it.