I’d say just as many men as women do it on my FB feed. We’re all in our 20s to early 30s.

I have several of these friends on Facebook (and some are men! Maybe their wives curate their profiles?) and you would not believe the fawning comments underneath every repeat wedding photo from 5 years ago. “Cute couple!” “What a happy day!” “Andrea looks radiant!” etc. etc. etc.

Yep.

No, I wouldn’t have a different attitude toward the mother, but thanks for playing. The fact is, mall kidnappings are rarer than rare—so rare compared to the sheer numbers of children left ALONE in mall food courts that bringing up the one recent example of something almost happening is completely disingenuous. The…

Everyone, remain calm. All the non-parents with no actual parenting experience in the world are here to tell us exactly how far away from our physical bodies our children can be before we should just get arrested on general principle.

The statement was that the kids were okay in the food court. They were obviously okay, weren’t they? Or did you find out they were actually kidnapped and/or injured, contrary to what the news reported? You must really like trains; maybe you’ll get one for your birthday.

I live near there. It’s hilarious (and relatively common) to be visiting a park over there and be the only mom in the park. Usually the other parents are within eyesight but doing their own thing. I don’t mind pushing other parents’ kids on the swings, luckily.

No, because I’m not a crazy person. But what does the side of a busy highway have to do with this story at all? Nothing, and I give your derailment attempt a grade of F minus.

reticent is not the same word as reluctant.

Are you a parent? Yes, the kids, both 2 and 6 year old, would be fine and were fine in that situation. You sound psychotic.

Ughhhhh, I know. I’m a single mom, luckily with lots of family support (i.e. free/cheap childcare, any time of day). I can’t even imagine trying to do what I do every day without reliable childcare. I’d be forced to stay at home and apply for welfare.

No, they’re really not too young. I have a kid that age and I would easily trust him to be fine 30-90 feet away from me, in eyesight.

Why?

YES. I have had the exact same thought.

“chocking” ...

Mine would have taken place at our university’s union, in the pool hall. We played pool—he taught me how to play the game—and he flirted hardcore while I tried to stay detached. I asked him for some chapstick and after he shared his with me, he asserted that it was basically like we’d already kissed each other now.…

Yes, I know about mechanical tenderization. And yep, that’s a risk everyone takes when they eat a steak. If you aren’t sure if it was tenderized or not, and cook it to internal 160F, there shouldn’t be an issue though. Or just buy from a local butcher who knows the meat’s provenance (I’m spoiled by how many there are…

No, I’m not. Parasites are killed by cooking the meat to the correct internal temp.

And that’s why you cook it to the correct temperature, as I stated. But really, the interior of a muscle is germ-free unless corrupted, or if the animal had worms. But wormy animals get condemned in the US, and again, we cook our meats to the correct temp for a reason—it kills microbes.