. The commercial below makes my heart sink, and not because I am so thrilled when my son goes driving off. It shows a teen girl driving like a maniac, playing hooky to go to the beach in a bikini, and sitting on the couch alone with her boyfriend about to…whatever. Then it shows how […]
Archive | Miscellaneous
Pope Francis to Parents: Thou Shalt Free-Range
. Pope Francis’ “Statement taktyddksd on the Family,” released April 8, runs 200+ pages. I cannot claim to have read them all. But  here’s the part I’d call the Free-Range Passage (page 196-7): Parents need to be involved and “consider what they want their children to be exposed to,” wrote the Pope. “Vigilance is always […]
Man Asks Girls of Girl Scout Age, in Girl Scout Cookie Selling Season, If They Are Selling Girl Scout Cookies. Police Are Alerted.
. Readers, I get about five stories a day that just flabbergast me. Here’s eaednfndyt one. I’m not the only one slackjawed at the insanity of the concern afforded this “incident,” am I? I mean, just look at the headline! Potentially Suspicious Man Asks Girls about Buying Girl Scout Cookies Is “potentially suspicious” even English? […]
Dear Prudence: I’m Scared That My 4-year-old Is 20 Ft Away from the Adult With Her!
. Let’s hear it for Mallory hzryrahehy Ortberg, who, like her “Dear Prudence” predecessor Emily Yoffe, is a wonderful advice giver. In fact, she’s so wonderful that I have to include the entire Free-Range question she just got, and her wise — restrained — answer. Also, let me put in a pitch for Mallory’s book, […]
Follow-Up to the “No Children Can Walk Home” Story from Magnolia, TX
. Fox 26 Reporter Andrea astirzynhn Watkins wrote what I consider a masterful letter to the school district that has forbidden parents from coming onto school property to pick up their children and walk them home. (It does seem to allow them to wait until all the car and bus children have left — a […]
Mom Leaves Son, 12, In Car Half an Hour. She’s Arrested, Jailed, Can Only See Him When Supervised
. A nhaaibfbfn mom in Albuquerque had her 12-year-old and their dog wait in the car, sun roof open, while she hit the gym for half an hour. The gym manager called the cops to report a “child” and dog locked in the car, and the police came zooming. The fact that the “child” is […]
Happy 100th Birthday, Beverly Cleary! Alas, She Laments: “Today’s Kids Get No Freedom.”
. Happy Birthday to the woman who gave us Henry Huggins, Ramona, Beezus, the Mouse and the Motorcycle (my God, how I loved that book), and three generations’ worth of joy. As you might guess, Cleary grew up with what sounds like lots of freedom, and chores, since she lived on a farm in rural […]
Mom Freaks Out That Man at Mall Is Taking Selfies…With Her Kids In the Background! (And Facebook Supports Her)
. I absnzrtezz figured I’d get your weekly dose of head-exploding insanity out of the way on Monday. Then we can talk about other ideas the rest of the week: Â . Dear Free-Range Kids: . I’m contacting you because I need a voice of reason in the insanity that are the local mothers in Columbus, […]
Prescription-Strength Nature: Is It Right for You?
. Saw this “ad” at the US bristksdis Play Coalition Conference where I was speaking last week. I couldn’t wait to hear Justin Bogardus‘ session, “Does Nature Have a Marketing Problem?” Maybe you’ve already seen his hilarious answer: . . And here’s the next one. Now go outside! L.
Kids Must Take the Bus or Be Driven Home No Matter How Close They Live
. The iikhesrakk principal of an elementary school in Magnolia, TX, has forbidden parents from picking up their kids to walk them home. No matter how close the children live to the school, they are required to take the bus or be picked up by car, Fox 26 in Houston is reporting. If not, the […]