A mum who was branded "ridiculous" by her friend has taken to Mumsnet to find out if others agree with her.
The Mumsnet user posted on the AIBU (Am I Being Unreasonable) forum about being an "overprotective parent". In the post, she describes how she does not let her seven-year-old go to the park or birthday parties alone due to her fears over what could happen.
Read more: Mum 'really stressed out' by husband's desire to go for weekends away without kids.
The post sparked much debate and received hundreds of comments. Some users agreed that the mum was being overprotective, but many supported her actions.
The full post reads: "My daughter (eldest) turned 7 in December. She is quite sensible generally, quite bookish, loves school, but she’s quite a 'young' seven, I think. Like she’s not very streetwise. Perhaps that’s my fault. Anyway, she doesn’t get out with her friends on her own. I know a few of her friends will play out in the street, running from garden to garden with no parents really watching them. Others will go to the local play park by themselves.
"My friend's son is almost eight and he goes to the park with his friend. Recently my friend suggested her son comes round for my daughter and they go to the park. I say, that’s fine I’ll take my youngest and can keep an eye on the older two. Eye rolling, they’ll be fine, can you not just enjoy the break.
"I feel like she’s too young. She’s not ready. In fact I feel like we aren’t even nearly there yet. There are houses surrounding the play park and anyone could be living there. But I feel pressure when this happens. I’ve had similar instances with her cousin (who is the same age as her) with my sister in law being a bit eye rolly with me about not liking them playing in the street where I can’t see her. I’m also not keen on leaving her at (for example) soft play parties. I have done it a few times but usually will take the younger one along as a bit of an excuse really. Am I doing her a massive disservice here?"
But fellow users supported her, with Mumsnet user sorryforswearing saying: "I think 8 is too young to be in a park unsupervised. It doesn’t matter how sensible the child is they could be forced into a vehicle, for example, against their will."
User Bromse added: "You're not being over protective, you're being normal. Your daughter is still very young, you don't expect a child to be 'street wise' at her age and she shouldn't have to be."
Some parents had a different view. Oblomov22 said: "The park I can understand. But the rest of it, your anxiety is making you parent incorrectly and that is damaging. Not just over-protective but actually bad damaging parenting. Seek some counselling to address your core issues."
Other users were quick to come to the mum's defence. Mumsnet user ImAvingOops said: "I'm the same as you. Better to be a bit overprotective than not protective enough imo! Being blunt I think some parents are lazy - they want the break more than they want to properly supervise their children. Which then puts the rest of us under pressure to let our kids do things prematurely.
"You are right - it would be really easy to abduct a small child who cannot defend themselves. I do think though that you need to teach her how to respond to any danger, by teaching her rules, such as not leaving school or soft play with anyone other than people you have told her she can leave with. Or what to do if approached."
What do you think about the post? Let us know in the comments.
For the latest news straight to your inbox, sign up for one of our newsletters here.
