I don't blame the person who called the cops — she had no way of assessing just what the parenting situation was, and I'd probably feel uncomfortable just leaving a nine year old girl in the park once I had stumbled on that information too.

THIS. This is why the other day, when I had both boys with me at the office (ages 8 and 10), and they were bouncing off the walls, and I wanted them to get some sunshine and work off some energy, when I floated the idea that they walk the 2 blocks (with sidewalks! and cross walks!) to the playground that is RIGHT NEXT…

We live in a society where no one wants to particularly help parents, but they really, really want to judge them.

The kid told her mom that she wanted to go play in the park instead of sitting in a McDonald's all day. And according to the quote there were around 40+ kids at the park both days so it wasn't like the kid was ACTUALLY alone.

The only mistake her mother made was not telling her daughter the most important rule of playing in parks. When a stranger asks you where your parents are you point to the nearest person that looks like they can throw a decent punch. Never say you are alone!

Me too! We developed independence and confidence by exploring everywhere, got tons of exercise, learned how to solve problems and interact with all kinds of different people, and used our imaginations and creativity in all sorts of games. So much better for kids than sitting in a room playing video games or constant…

Also, one is black and the other is not.

Racist and classist bullshit. Have to wonder whether anyone would have reported this to Public Safety if the little girl was white. Not to mention the fact that the mother obviously can't afford childcare on McDonald's wages (and most people would laugh at the very notion that McD's provide any form of daycare for the…

Yeah. I made the mistake of taking my 6, 8 and 9 year old nephews and nieces camping one weekend. The little shits had no idea what to do. They were all just sitting around the picnic table complaining about how bored they were. I said, "How can you be bored?! There's a lake to swim in, miles of awesome wilderness…

I'm so conflicted by this. When I was 12 I went to Disney's MGM Studios (now Disney Studios, I think) completely by myself. My dad and sister didnt want to go, and I was set on it. I was fine. When I was 6-9, I used to ride my BMX bike, without a helmet, along a very busy city street, to a convenience store to buy…

1o is the legal home-alone age here. It sounds like she was checking in with her mom too. This is why kids (and apparently adults) have no problem-solving skills anymore!

I'm so sorry that happened to you, but this woman wasn't off gambling. She was working at her minimum wage job. What would've been a smarter decision? To quit her job? To never let her daughter play outside, even with a cell phone and in a family friendly public park?

Who knew that all those years, my parents were hardened criminals?

What I simply don't understand is why some segments of society (GOP, I'm looking at you) are so damn insistent on taking away sex education, access to birth control, public assistance, child care programs, etc and then are SHOCKED and MORALLY OUTRAGED when women are unable to afford to provide for their children to…

Oh right, thanks for the clarification.

Eh I am on the fence. Leaving your child unattended for a full work day. Eight hours of just a child alone? Especially that young. Would we be ok if the child was left at home that long, probably not. I dont see why it is ok that she is left in a park alone.

Anecdotally: My parents let me be outside alone constantly. Sometimes I was not alone: My younger brother, younger sister and I played, unsupervised, in Central Park and Riverside Park for hours and hours, days and days in a row. We were also deposited in the Museum of Natural History while my parents went to…

I don't understand how this is neglect. She's 9, not 3. She's in fourth grade. Didn't we play alone outside in parks when we were 9? Without cell phones, even? Home for dinner at dark, that kind of thing? And we think it's better to put this girl in foster care than let her play in a nearby park with a cell phone?

Jesus Christ. When I was a kid during the summer, the only time I saw my parents was when I came home for dinner. We'd play outside, unsupervised for WEEKS! Fucking busy bodies need go find a hobby.

It would've made my day if the little girl told the busybody that she wasn't supposed to talk to strangers.