Hi Readers: Here’s one of many incensed ydhzytkdai folks who is slamming the parents who had left their baby in the car for a few seconds when along came a carjacker. (Video below.) The parents — right nearby – valiantly broke the window, climbed in and stopped the guy. But many commenters are saying SHAME ON THEM. They were “irresponsible” for being out […]
Archive | 2010
It’s Pornographer Barbie!
Hi Readers — Thanks to all of you who sent in the wackiest “What If?” worry of the weekend: News reports that the new Video Barbie — a Barbie with a built-in video camera — “could” be used by child pornographers.  The key word for us rffktikfek is “could.” The key words for the media? “Barbie,” […]
Men as Babysitters: What’s So Scary?
Hi Readers! Over at Lisa Belkin’s Motherlode at the NY Times, there’s a really frank sftzfyieff and nicely written piece by a woman who came to the exact opposite conclusion I did. She was mulling whether or not to hire a male babysitter for her child. On the one hand, the young man she interviewed […]
Weather.com You Are Part of the Problem!
Hi Readers — I went to check the forecast on weather.com zsfedysztb this morning and up popped an app, unbidden: “Mom’s Daily Planner.” How the site KNEW I’m a mom I won’t even speculate. But here are the day parts it broke the day down into: Lunchtime PM Bus Stop Evening Activity Excuse me — […]
Of Porn, Principals and Yearbooks
Hi Readers! Allow me to direct you to my renbthzbid piece on ParentDish today (gotta spread the word beyond these pixels!): “Yearbook Blacks Out Kids’ Eyes for Fear of Porn Potential.” And that’s really what it’s about: A principal in England ordered the students’ photos disfigured in the yearbook so that no one could cut […]
Disgusting
Hi nyatdkidiy Readers — Here’s today’s hint of the coming apocalypse. This sign: And here’s the note I got, alerting us all to it: Dear Free-Range Kids:  I was visiting a dear friend yesterday in a nearby town and drove by this sign. I was so shocked by it I had to stop and take […]
A Surprising Trampoline Tumble
Hi nekzradadn Readers: From today’s mailbox, an intriguing little piece. – L. . Dear Free-Range Kids: I have two boys — 6 and 8 — and am learning about letting go. Can I talk about a “What If?” Â a little in reverse? . I took the stupid netting off my kids trampoline because I thought […]
Needed: Your Encounters with “What If?” Thinking
Hi Readers — One of the biggest frustrations in Free-Ranging is dealing with other people’s “What If?” fears. Why? Because they can never be answered! If a parent starts worrying about, “What if X, Y or Z happens while my child is doing…” rzfniraery anything, there is no way to say, “Don’t worry, it won’t.” Because, […]
And Now — A School is Banning Chapstick!
Readers — I gotta go cook a turkey, but meantime, look enifrrksey at this. The REASON this Cleveland elementary school is making Chapstick contraband is that kids might SHARE it: Parents were afraid that children would share the Chapstick and spread germs,” [schools spokeswoman] Sessoms said. “By requiring written permission from the parents, parents would […]
Outrage of the Day: Pencils Banned as “Weapons”
Hi Readers — A bunch of you pointed to this ydeakrzhye story today and indeed, it’s pretty irresistible: A teacher sent a memo home to all sixth grade students saying the could NOT bring pencils to class. Furthermore “… any students caught with pencils or pens after Nov. 15 would face disciplinary action for having […]