What is with kids left unattended?

[Ladybison]

I agree. Don't parents or care givers realize that the perverts that pray on children hang out where children do???? I love Disney. I am a huge disney addict but even at disney I can't imagine leaving a child unattended!!!!! My heart goes out to the children that have been left for even a few minutes---just imagine how scared they must be!!!! As adults it is time to put children first on the time.

Exactly!!! Like the man who tried to get the little girl to go to another area with him but her brother stopped him and told their dad. Then they watched as he got another little girl. People have to realize and I can say this after working with sexual offenders, they watch routines and that's how they prey upon kids.

 

[crossfamily]

I am so grateful for family bathrooms.. Just this last year and I started letting my ds10 go to the BR alone. I still stand outside the door and wait but hey thats my choice. That is truely sad about the 3yo. You wonder what goes thought the minds of people now a days...

 

[abcboys]

Yes, I understand that it could happen anywhere (the bathroom incident). I still won't worry about it or make my 8 year old go in with me. Yes, I know there was a 9 year old killed in a bathroom once and if I look up other stories I find molestation on a 12 and 13 year old boy. I will not take a teenager boy in the women's bathroom because of a freak occurence. If I wait till my son could hold his own with a grown man that grabbed him I would be waiting till he was at least 16. I also found a story of a grown woman killed in a restroom. Should I refuse to use the ladies restroom alone??

I understand everyone has their own parenting style and that's fine. But those of you that don't let your son go in the bathroom alone at the age of 9 or 10, do you let them go to school? Haven't you heard about all of the school shootings?

If you want to give your growing boy some freedom, but still be protective let them use the men's room and stand right by the door. If they need you they can yell for you or you will be able to hear them if there is trouble.

 

[kjetjl]

I read an article about the parents leaving the little girl....it said that the father came out of the ride soon after the parents realized that one of them did not have the little girl but the stroller had been moved. ( It is not unheard of for something like that to happen. Once DH dropped me and older kids off at the movie theater and was supposed to park and bring the baby in the car seat in with him. He got into the theater and realized I did not have the baby. He ran outside and got him. The whole situation lasted about 4 minutes.)
What I don't understand is that the article went on to say that it took 50 minutes for the parents to then meet up with authorities who had their daughter. Now that is where I think they were up to no good. I would be running around and notifying a CM IMMEDIATELY if we discovered we didn't have our 3 year old. Not 50 minutes later!

Concerning a 9 year old/10 year old in the opposite sex bathroom. Personally, my son uses the men's bathroom but for those who choose to keep their children with them- I say "good for you." Too many parents don't rely on their own instincts to raise their own kids and give in to what others say is best for them!

 

[workinmomof2]

I read all of this and all that comes to mind is WOW.

I am raising my 2 sons to be independent, however, that is not going to stop me from my duty to protect them. Unfortunately, there is alot of ugly in the world these days and I think it is irresponsible of us as parents to stick our heads in the sand and not think it won't happen to us. It is great to give your child freedom, but you HAVE to protect them. If they are old enough to understand than it is time to explain about the ugly world, if not, than you need to do what your maternal instincts tell you. I live 60 miles south of Chicago. Ugly just doesn't happen there. A boy was molested and killed while fishing in the river.

 

[Mkrop]

I juts read an article this morning about some creep on the beach in Ocean City NJ who was helpinga 12 yr old girl untangle her kite and he grabbed her toes and starting sucking them. She was too scared to scream but then another grownup started walking towards them on the beach and he quickly jogged off. Now here was this 12 yr old gril whom I am sure her parents and even her school proabably taught her to scream if someone touches you inappropriately but she said she was in complete shock and was then scared so she didnt scream in time. So I dont know if even now when I send DS9 into the bathroom alone (and I judge this on a case by case scenario but he has been going more often alone) if someone threatens him not to scream or if he is going to be to too scared to scream even if I am right outside.

As for the psoter who mentioned the schools, I know I feel more comfortable now sending my child to school now that they have lockdown drills and people are buzzed in at the front door and signed in.

It is a shame that kids do have to grow up with these dangers out there and no I dont think they are around every corner but I will do what is in my control to protect my kids.

 

[goofyboyzmom]

With how busy the bathrooms are in Disney I don't worry about this so much as the garden variety wierdo, but for those who are sending their young kids into the bathroom by themselves, here in Michigan at a campground a 9 year old boy went into the bathroom by himself while his aunt stood OUTSIDE THE DOOR waiting for him. He never came out, so she finally went in. He was laying in there dead from having his throat slashed by a sicko who was hiding in the bathroom. This is a true story and you can find it in the archives of the Detroit News/Free Press. I have 3 boys and this totally changed my actions, because I would sometimes just stand outside the door waiting for them.

Just be careful.

 

[Mkrop]

I have been trying to avoid the whole bathroom debate bc I felt beat to shreds on the last thread, anyway for me it is a hard decision bc he is at the age where he wants the independence, and is not all that happy about going into the ladies room, but his saftey needs to come first, he is not going to be able to fight off a grown man. He does know when I make the call for him to come in with me it is bc I dont feel the situation is safe and he doest argue but that is certainly not his choice to be in the ladies room. SO ebing mom to boys I feel everytime we go somewhere this is a struggle,

I feel bad for the men out there who have to take their daughters places solo. There was juts a thread about whether a dad should come into a dressing room to help his daughter or not.

 

[Unregistered]

I'm lucky enough to have dh take ds6 into the restroom at WDW. We recently went to a local bowling alley and he needed to use the restroom and the mens was the closest. I asked if anybody was in the bathroom, no answer. Then I walk in, nobody. Then I let my son and one of his friends go in. I blocked the door for the few minutes it took.

My aunt would let her son when he got a bit older used the restroom, but he had to sing/recite ABC's. If he stopped singing she would be walking in.

My ds doesn't complain...yet. Pervs come from all walks of life.

 

[Unregistered]

That guy came up to me and my step sister and said he liked her nails, and then a few days later the news reporters came up to us and interview us.

 

[Mkrop]

That guy came up to me and my step sister and said he liked her nails, and then a few days later the news reporters came up to us and interview us.

I read that in that article from ON, NJ as well. Very scary, be very careful girls!