[BarTopDancer]

I have seen (and cannot find at the moment) statistics that there is not any more crime now then there was when most of us were kids. We just hear about it now because it's so easy to get the news. The first kidnapping I ever heard about was when I was not even 10. It was Laura Bradbury, from some national park. I have no idea why this name stuck with me all these years, but it did. I also have no idea how it turned out.

In the 3rd grade I was allowed to ride my bike to the store with a friend. The store shopping center had an entrance into the back [mostly deserted] parking lot in our neighborhood. In the 4th grade I was allowed to ride my bike to school with my friends (my mom drove me to the babysitters where our bikes were. Babysitter lived in the same neighborhood as the school). In the 5th grade I was allowed to ride my bike or walk to McDonalds with my friends on our half days. This bike ride was about a mile each way and took us on a busy street. In 7th grade I was walking or riding my bike to school (my 5th and 6th grade school was to far). Up a busy street and across a busy street. No crossing guards.

We were allowed to play in the front yard, unsupervised around 6 or 7 and were told to come inside if anyone who shouldn't be in the neighborhood was around.

I think parents these days are between a rock and a hard place. Give your kids independence and be labeled an uncaring parent. Watch over them to much and you're a helicopter parent.