tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post8619583606665578724..comments2024-02-05T05:15:04.759-08:00Comments on Wandering Scientist: No ComplaintsCloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-50651867388210683732015-02-20T12:47:41.411-08:002015-02-20T12:47:41.411-08:00Huh, I swore I replied to comments yesterday! The ...Huh, I swore I replied to comments yesterday! The motivation to move off of blogger grows... but not enough to get onto my actual to do list.<br /><br />I didn't have anything profound to say. Just that the worry about someone calling CPS is part of what keeps us from having Pumpkin walk home alone, and I'm struggling to explain that to her. Starting out with some time home alone seems like a better route right now.<br /><br />@Laura- Pumpkin started preferring to go to the women's room alone rather than accompanying Mr. Snarky when she was about 6, I think. In some ways, it is easier with little boys, since women are always in stalls in our restrooms- so I'd just let your son take the lead and tell you. I'll also say that I've been asked by a stranger to keep an eye on a young girl heading into a public bathroom alone. It doesn't happen often, and when it does it is always at the beach or bay. Something about those restrooms creeps the dads out, I guess. The most I've ever actually had to do to help one of these girls is turn on the tap, though! Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-50807840184919510642015-02-20T00:57:43.239-08:002015-02-20T00:57:43.239-08:00I'm currently reading 'Ramona the Pest'...I'm currently reading 'Ramona the Pest' with my own little Ramona. Mrs Quimby was certainly down with the free range parenting. Ramona was walking herself to school at age 5. Not that it always ended well... I do love Ramona. I am so looking forward to re-reading the series.<br /><br />I definitely use child labor for cleaning skirting boards and pulling weeds from between pavers. Sometimes I have to pay a couple of 10 year olds, but they're pretty good. Zenmoonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-87490104511113913892015-02-19T20:07:28.507-08:002015-02-19T20:07:28.507-08:00Gosh, what fun. We're facing some of the same...Gosh, what fun. We're facing some of the same issues (desire for more independence) though thus far they've been pretty minor -- our son seems to have embraced the school district "policy" (not, I don't think, enforced) that kids must be "walked to school" (not solo) until 3rd grade, but I am no longer allowed to walk *into* the school nor to say "I love you" or hug him (I sometimes break one of those rules). Once (but only once) I was "required" to drop him off by the crossing guard and not cross the street with him -- the guard told me I was a "good mom" when I did that (but hasn't commented in any way -- positive or negative -- on my resuming the walking with, though that is also at DS's request). <br /><br />@Laura I'm pretty sure mine's been using the men's room for about 2 years (so since age 5 or 6), though we mostly frequent fairly calm, family-friendly spots (not crowded/confusing). I don't insist on this, but I do give him the option and increasingly, that's what he chooses.Alexicographernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-49630262559139381882015-02-19T13:03:30.772-08:002015-02-19T13:03:30.772-08:00I'm trying to figure out when a boy is allowed...I'm trying to figure out when a boy is allowed to go to a public men's room by himself. He's getting too old to go to the ladies room. <br /><br />(And here's to kid cleaning!)Laura Vanderkamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06385504652419979583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-66380254268377267252015-02-19T07:17:35.197-08:002015-02-19T07:17:35.197-08:00I should get Baguette a kid-sized broom. She likes...I should get Baguette a kid-sized broom. She likes brooms. I've started having her help me make her bed (in time, I'll step out of the way and have her do this solo) and feed the dog (we keep the food on top of the refrigerator, so I'll have a role in this longer), and so far, both are going well.<br /><br />I'm so frustrated by our societal fear of an untended child. I had more freedom at almost-5 than Baguette does, and our current neighborhood is very similar to the one we lived in when I was her age. But our assessment of her freedom levels is based on not just her age, but her autism--and that is specific to her. I am aghast that, as parents, we are unable to make these determinations for our children. Certainly at age 7, I was home alone while my mother was at a neighbor's house for a short visit. You and Mr. Snarky should be the ones determining what Pumpkin is ready for, and I hope you're able to let her develop the skills she's ready to develop.TragicSandwichhttp://www.tragicsandwich.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-30348326307815649022015-02-19T05:15:54.670-08:002015-02-19T05:15:54.670-08:00NPR had a thing on kids' freedom yesterday mor...NPR had a thing on kids' freedom yesterday morning. It was really depressing. It basically said, don't even think about doing this until your kid is 10 if you don't want "concerned citizens" to call the CPS... except maybe if you're white and live in a nice neighborhood you'll be ok. Except people may still call the CPS.<br /><br />We have a kid-sized broom! Can you send Petunia this way? DC1 still needs to finish unpacking from when his room was painted and he could use a little cheeriness about it. (He doesn't like the: you can get rid of this stuff, you can put it in the attic, or you can *put it away* options.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com