The leaving a baby outside thread made me think of when I was little I...

[Belgianchocolatesmama]

used to regularly fetch bits and pieces from the grocery shop for my mum from age 5. She used to give me a little list written down and I had to give it to the shopkeeper and then I could pick some sweets with the change. Having a 5yo now I couldn't even contemplate doing this. Did anyone else do this when they were little and would you do it now?

its so sad

When DH was born his eldest sister was 9 and she was the one would would get up in the night with him and heat his bottle and rock him back to sleep

Not at 5, but certainly 7 or so. Walking to school over 2 main roads, going to shop for cigs etc.
And, as long as I told my parents where I was going I could go miles away to play.
No way would I let any child of mine do that these days.

why wont any of you let your children out to play on her own?

as i said my dd1 is 4 and a half and she was out playing in the park across the street last night while i made the tea

she came home and said "im going to katies house" i told her to be back for 6 and she was (katie lives round the corner)

I'm naturally suspicious and wary after all the horror stories in the news over the years

Grew up in a city, think that makes a difference, did to me anyway compared to my cuntry neighbours now

"naturally suspicious" as in I'm just made that way

i really dont think its any worse than say 30 or 40 years ago

it probably isn't, but I'm a suspicious bugger

We were having building work done once and DH and I were discussing who would be in when builder called - neighbour said "just leave your door open, we never lock ours"

I was horrified

I did, but I lived in a village and am so ancient that it was mostly horse drawn carts in those days.

Seriously though, I do think that rather than an increase in the number of lunatics it's the hugely increased amount of traffic that is the real problem nowadays.