I just know people whose children have been killed because they wandered into a quiet residential street. Kid stepped off the curb to get a toy, and the truck that was backing up didn't see her.

This makes me think of parents who send their kids outside to play, while they're inside cleaning/napping/screwing the pool boy/whatever. My mom sent us out to play all the time (we had no pool boy).

Knowing that your kid could wander into the street, how does a parent EVER let their kid do ANYTHING unattended?

Given that I'm not a parent, I'm sure that I'm over-simplifying it, but my question still stands.

Trust you, SuziQ.

Mwah!!!

As I read all these horror stories about kids and mischief, I count my lucky stars. Other than the occasional grab from stepping into the street, neither of mine tried to do themselves in. I think it was karmic payback for the medical drama each went through in their youth. That was enough.

Now, as they have grown older, we have more fun. I'm never going to live down not taking K-Bug to the doctor for two months after she broke her hand. "It is just a sprain, honey. Ice it." Yeah...once we got it checked out - she was in a cast for over 4 months, plus surgery, a bone graft, and a screw. Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!

This makes me think of parents who send their kids outside to play, while they're inside cleaning/napping/screwing the pool boy/whatever. My mom sent us out to play all the time (we had no pool boy).

My mother used to only let me play in the backyard and she would watch me from the window. If I wandered out of her sight I would immediately hear, "Get back where I can see you".

Unfortunately, given the unusual situation we're in (when he chose to keep the house, he chose also to keep my grandmother in it and my mother next door)

Oh gosh. I should have put a spacer between my comments. I had no idea of the complexity of your situation and was not making a direct comment about it. I couldn't possibly asess your ex's behavior as jerky or otherwise. I'm sorry for that fumbling.

I will say again though that it sounds so difficult!

Knowing that your kid could wander into the street, how does a parent EVER let their kid do ANYTHING unattended?

A) You create safe zones.

B) I never did leave Emmett unattended. Not unless he was strapped into a chair, or in a totally baby proofed area with gates up, or in his crib. Even then, I tried to not let him out of my sight for more than a minute.

The first time I had to take Emmett to the emergency room was when he broke his nose playing baseball when he was 8.

Oh Beej, no need to apologize. I didn't take it that way at all. It's just a complex and weird situation. Thanks for the kind words.

I gotta say, so far I have pretty non-life-endangering kids. Casper has never tried to stick anything in an outlet, never tried to open the safety clocks on cabinet doors (there are plenty of unlocked cabinets - she can play with pots and pans or tupperware if she feels like it). Never left the house without me standing right there (though she knows how to undo the door.) The only reason she climbs on the counter is to sneak sugar from the sugar bowl.

No doubt the Dillo will be a terror, once he can locomote.

I never did leave Emmett unattended. Not unless he was strapped into a chair, or in a totally baby proofed area with gates up, or in his crib. Even then, I tried to not let him out of my sight for more than a minute.

Does that ease up with age? I mean, I wouldn't let my 4-year-old play outside without me also being outside, but what about when they're 9 or 10?

I have to go constantly check on the dog when she's in the yard or tied up out front. Or if she's inside, but it's just too quiet.

IOW, I have no idea how people with actual children manage.

This makes me think of parents who send their kids outside to play, while they're inside cleaning/napping/screwing the pool boy/whatever.

I don't even let my dog out in the yard by himself. Seriously. If he had opposable thumbs? Grafted vine from my belly to his neck...no need for a leash!

He's never out of my sight (after that creepy guy on the street told me "You know they steal dogs like that." on my second day of having him). If I had an actual kid I think I'd trump David's inner Jason Bourne with paranoid strategy and a padded hamster ball. No lie.

eta: Ha! Thanks for the xpost. I'm not alone!