My mother is 48
and no she didn't
( Peej, Tue 2 Nov 2010, 15:21, 1 reply)

OK - that's fair enough.
It seems among my peers that our parents, who are all of relatively similar age - mid 60s-70s - that they were rather more relaxed about their babysitting - as evinced above - as opposed to today's paranoia about paedogeddon.

Personally I think it's something of a shame. Likewise (admittedly, I grew up in the countryside) we would disappear all day during the holidays - out after breakfast and would often only return for tea - not even lunch.

I can't envisage such happening now.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Tue 2 Nov 2010, 15:34, closed)

I don't really have any fear of paedos or kidnappers
I do have fears of felt tips pens and light brown sofas. I grew up in the country side too and was allowed to play out for hours on end but not until I was a bit older, but Maddy was 3 or 4 and was left with 2 year old twins. That's just terrible parenting
( Peej, Tue 2 Nov 2010, 16:47, closed)

Yeah that would have been the same as my sisters, our friends' kids and I.
There would be about 7 or 10 of us in the room ranging from about 7 to ... well - one of us being able to be cotted in a drawer.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Tue 2 Nov 2010, 16:50, closed)