Oh, my god

[pegkerr]

minnehaha B, you have given me a hard time about not letting the girls off the block.

This happened at the park quite close to my house. And we've always considered it a pretty good neighborhood, too.

Now do you understand why parents get scared?

Shit. That poor kid. He's Delia's age. Those poor parents.

I am really distressed over this.

EDITED TO ADD: kiramartin JUST CALLED TO REPORT THE KID HAS BEEN FOUND. HE WAS AN OVERNIGHT RUNAWAY, WHO HAS RETURNED TO HIS HOME.

(Personally, if I were his mom, I'd probably be tempted to just about kill him.)

Comments

[faeryguinevere.livejournal.com]

That's terrible!

We must live close - I live 1/2 block from that park. It makes me think I need to be more careful in the neighborhood. I have always felt very safe here, but now I feel less sure about that.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Remember that by the very nature of this being news, it is a rare occurance. Not that you should be less careful, but that a single incident has very little impact on the overall safety of the neighborhood.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

That's damned little comfort right now.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

I'm sure. This is, I think, one of the reasons I wouldn't make a good parent. Weird uncle I do pretty well at, but my lack of emotional response to this sort of thing makes me think it best I not be in charge of raising children directly. As I said, below, though, I think your parenting has given your girls the skills necessary to avoid a similar situation. Here's hoping they never have need to use them.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

I don't have an emotional response to it either, and I think I've been a good parent to our four kids.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

I would have to agree. You're another person I know that's a good parent. So maybe there's nothing to my theory that I'd be a mediocre, at best, parent. Still, I think that having that suspicion is at least one good reason to avoid becoming one for at least the time being.