Nzingha's Soapbox
When I arrived in Bahrain 23 years ago...one of the first things I was shocked to see were the sheer number of little children running the streets without a parent in sight. We are talking about 4 year olds...I couldnt imagine letting one of my 6 or 7 year olds go to school alone much less run the streets. And then when they are hit by cars or injured in some way....or molested etc...then mothers cry like they have no blame. Bahrain is much worse now then it was back then...yet the children are still out there. Its a true shame such little regard is given to children...everything from no concern for seatbelts to running the streets...to swimming alone etc. I could never understand why such a blase' attitude about children you "love"
The same is here in the UAE. But I have seen much younger children, some still in diapers, go to the store alone because "it is right next door".
I also see them running around with no one watching them either and there are cars driving sooooo fast. I just can't understand it.
I don't let my children out of my sight either. If I need something at the corner grocer I will call them or go and get it myself.
There are more sickos and crazies out there now than just even 10 years ago. So sad.
My Pipsqueak turns 9 tomorrow and still isn't allowed to do errands alone. She has gone into the post office to buy stamps- I was in the car waiting though- or go into pizza hut to buy her pizza- again- I was in the car and could see her.
I can't fathom letting a kid as young as 5 due errands. Though I am in the States and things are a bit different here.
I have a question though- when these children are kidnapped and molested- if they are found alive again- do they have a stigma attached to them? Is it hard for them as they get older to find a spouse? Just wondering how they are dealt with since it is so culturally different in Saudi than in the States.
Kikilia, when my daughter was nine I did the same thing - let her go into places by herself if I could see her from the car. She is 22 now and lives in another town, sharing an apartment with her roommate from college. I have to not think about her driving to work or going to the store by herself, and I have to physically refrain from picking up the phone five times a day to call her and make sure she's OK. It's so hard to let go. Cannot fathom parents who let their little kids roam the streets - I used to see that in Memphis and it really bothered me.
When I was small, our town was small, and we had very clear boundaries (the "busy" street got more than 3 cars/day. Possibly 5!! so we couldn't cross it.)
We ran amok like wild things and were seldom seen from morning until noon - and then from after nap until dinner, during the no-school days/months.
Broke my heart that the wild places had turned into subdivisions and my daughter didn't have that kind of childhood. But the world is different now.
When I first saw the title here I thought you meant much older kids lol... was prepared to disagree... but no. 5 year olds should not be running errands.
And like someone mentioned earlier, I remember being able to do a lot as a little kid that I won't allow mine to do now... Is sad & I wish we could... but it just isn't safe anymore.
My oldest is 8 years old and I have *anxiety attacks* if I ever think of her going somewhere alone. Even if the people in the area are well known to all, its actually those people not strangers who actually harm the children.
I'm over protective and PROUD of it. There are way to many psychopaths out there, I'm sorry.
sad world.
Oh and had the dreaded swine flu finally passed? Been thinking about your kids and hope they're alright!
Having an older child run into a store and your waiting in the car is one thing. I do that w/ the older two but only stores that are known to them. Sending them off alone like they do here would send the alarms off for any western parent. boys tend to have more freedom to go off than girls do.. but they are victims of the perverted minds that exist. Even boys on their way to the mosque have been known to be kidnapped and raped. Its a sad thing.
btw.. swine flu has left the house and all are well. I have two in school one going back tomorrow and Mariam starts on the 1st of November. Things are starting to get back to normal.
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