I'm wondering about my parenting as my parent friends seem to have very different ideas to me. I had bad post natal anxiety after ds was born and thought my feelings then were perfectly valid, I now know I did some ridiculous things. Now I also feel my feelings are 'right', but can I trust them?
My ds is oldest at 3, all other children range from 1.5-2.5. These are things they are allowed to do, which I don't let my ds.
-Play out of sight in a public space. In the house he's welcome to disappear in his bedroom or living room while I'm pottering about, in a busy public park if I'm sat on a bench I'll move bench/ stand up so I can always see him.
-Ride in the car without a car seat. I'm often told by friends "It's fine, we're only going two minutes down the road" that's only a 5 minute walk. I refuse and walk.
-Walk/run next to a busy road without holding hands. Friends child actually ran into the road the other day and a car had to slam his brakes on, but they still let the child carry on.
-Let a friend of a friend baby sit for ten minutes. Often get something like "Come with me to the shop, Dave will watch them" If I've never met Dave then there's not a chance. Even if you say Dave is fine.
And lastly
-Go further than the garden when he's in bed (alone in house) Happy to sit in the garden and spend some child free time when he's asleep, but going to to the end of the road to meet a friend or going inside nextdoors house, no.
Mumsnets judgement please. Is this the right level of safety for a 3 yr old? Or have I let my anxiety take over again without realising it?