Things as a whole have changed. I remember when I was a kid, we would take off and ride our bikes all over town, we would play outside up and down the street with all the neighbor kids way after dark, and there never was any worry. Now you have to watch your kids like a hawk, because you never know what kind of weirdo might be lurking. Another thing I think that has caused huge problems is the Internet. I think it is a valuable tool for doing research, keeping in touch with people. But it has also allowed pedophiles to have access to unending amounts of child pornography. Before the Internet they had to obtain there pornography by other means, now all they have to do is log on to find what they are looking for, or to put out their own stuff. I think it has made the pedophiles and child molesters more aggressive because now they get on the computer and search out their stuff and it only fuels their obsession and causes them to want to go out and look for victims. As much as the Internet has been a blessing in this day and age, it also has become a curse.

When I was 5 years old I walked to school, I grew up in Orange County and had to cross a road that had at least 3 lanes of traffic on both sides. School was at least one mile from the apartments we lived in and I remember going into the Liquor store to buy candy on my way home. One time in kindergarten I came to a road that was flooded and there was no way I could cross alone so a man in a truck got out picked me up and carried me across to the other side this was 1969.

In today's world there is NO WAY I would have been able to do what I did, kids were aloud to be kids back then, I had freedom, I could play, it saddens me to see what has happened since then. 

I also get sick at the thought of a very young child walking alone to school even here in Tehachapi. I didn't allow my own children to be out of my sight until they were about 10 or 11 and then it was when I was a place like Kmart and they wanted to go to the electronics department while I shopped. One time my husband (the kids step dad) forgot to pick them up at school my daughter was in 4th grade and my son was in 1st boy did I freak out with all the what If's. I watched my kids like a Hawk too.

I don't think you are being paranoid at all, its just the sad reality of the world we live in and as they get older it gets a bit easier buy until they are gone from your home and living on their own you will always want to know their whereabouts. Even then sometimes it makes you wonder and its just because you care about them.

When I was little we raised animals for the fair.  One year, some of the sheep were poisoned by visitors, so all the groups started to have people staying all day to watch over the animals.  That meant that my mom and I were usually there from before sunrise to almost midnight.  Her rule was that wherever we went, I needed to hold her purse straps.  After I broke a few of her purses from constant tugging, I had to hold onto her pocket.  I had a little freedom before the fair opened to the public, but once it was open she was like a hawk.  I'd say it was great parenting- I was never remotely in a bad situation.

The sad reality is that this world we live in isn't filled with caring, responsible, normal, respectful people. There are all kinds of freaks in the shadows. I often wonder if the world was always this way , things just weren't so openly discussed and people were able to live with blinders on, or if it has actually gotten worse.

Anytime you are around strangers you have to be on guard when it comes to your children,. It's important that they know how to react in a negative situation. It could very well be the difference between life and death. I don;t think you are paranoid at all. I think you are just being a responsible parent.

No your not paranoid, At least not in my book. I don't think you can be careful. Especially with young kids. It only takes a second for something bad to happened. Informing your children like you do is a important thing to do. Places like Chucky E Cheese has always freaked me out a little bit. When my kids where younger and we went to Chucky E Cheese you can bet that they also got the speech.