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Am I being a bad parent?
I agreed to let my 18 year old go to the park around the corner from my house with her friends along with my 14 and 15 year old boys at around 9:30pm to play basketball. At about 10:15pm my soon to be ex-husband was staying over and stated that I was wrong for having the kids out that late and gangs were shooting at parks and was I out of my mind, putting my children lives in danger like that. Could you please advise I would greatly appreciate it.
Absolutely not! Some of my best memories were hanging out at the basketball court and sitting around talking with friends after it got too dark to play.
Your children are probably safer at the park around the corner than riding in an automobile.
It sounds like he was just trying to find something to say to upset you. People can be very hurtful at times and they know how to push our buttons.
At the same time, there is nothing wrong with being a protective parent--with setting a time curfew and mandating certain places not to go at certain times, especially if you have any doubts or fears as to safety.
We can't protect our children every minute of every day. Even when we think they are perfectly safe there are still ways harm can come to them and you can't beat yourself up for things you can't control.
So ... take the comment from where it's coming from ... someone who would like to have a say but has lost that right and then do what you think in your heart of hearts is the best thing for your children.
