Kids

I ran across a blog that mentioned a new book called "Raising Free-Range Kids" or something close to that and a story (http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/why-i-let-my-9-year-old-ride-the-subway-alone/) of the author letting her 9 year old ride the NYC Subway alone to get home. I found peoples reaction to it interesting. At first I thought the kid was too young to be on the subway by himself but thinking about it it doesn't seem that strange. I remember being 9 and babysitting my sister and maybe my brother too while my parents were out for a few hours. I could ride my bike all over the neighborhood by 8. By 5 and 6 my little brother and sister were stealing change off the top of my dresser and riding their bikes to 7-11 to buy slurpees and candy by themselves. I think kids should be encouraged to roam and play and explore. I do feel like we have as a society have "protected" kids so much they can barely breathe sometimes. I am all about kid safety and all but some of it seems unnessessary.

So while talking about kids I hung out with Liz and the Brown kids last night after work. It was movie night and they let me pick out the movie. I chose A Little Princess b/c its one of my favorites. It was a different version than I'd seen before but it was good and Liz made us special popcorn (popcorn with chocolate chips) which was fun too.