Parkinson told me that her son—who competently walked the security guard back to their house after politely explaining that he wasn’t allowed to get into cars with strangers—had become distraught upon learning that he had apparently done something very bad.

There it is. This should have ended it. A short discussion between the security guard and the mother, with the mother explaining that her son was fine should have been the end of this, and the security guard could rest easy if he saw the kid outside again.

I'm Gen X and you already know our stories--gone from dawn to dusk in the summer with a stop in for lunch. Why have we done a complete 180 on this? Why are parents so afraid of fucking everything, it seems?

The fact she was arrested is unbelievable.

Admittedly, I wouldn't let my 5 year old have that much leeway, but I don't know her kid or the neighborhood and he seemed pretty capable based solely on the article. I'd probably wait until they are eligible for numbered grades. I was walking solo to elementary school and I made it out ok, so I guess kindergarten might not be much different. I think 7-8 is much more reasonable, but each kid is different.

Officials in the case decided to press charges against Parkinson, and last week she was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and placed on Virginia’s child-abuse-and-neglect registry, where she will remain for seven years.

I am all in favor of delinquency, but I don't understand what delinquent behavior she could possibly have contributed to in this case? Walking in public? Having an interest in waterfowl?

Jesus who decides the age in which a kid can ride the subway or walk to a gated community pond by themselves?

Why do so many in the US feel entitled to make decisions for others?

https://archive.ph/uTkUy

Yet another sign of a diseased society. Whether the disease will be terminal remains to be seen.

Back in the day kids younger than this were mature enough to hold a job. Now they can't even walk by themselves.

But seriously, times have changed and society has completely different idea of what acceptable risk for a child is than 30 years ago. They will also prosecute you for letting your kids do things that go beyond the limits they established. Not for actually letting your kid get harmed but just for risking it which will always be subjective. Everyone is scared now (even though crime is going down) and you have to be too or they will treat like you're crazy. For me it's just another reason not to have kids.

When I was a kid I collected toads from a nearby pond and biked to elementary school by myself. I was fine and I know the kids in my area still do this and they're also fine. I don't think this mother did anything wrong.

I kind of sound like an old fart complaining about kids not playing outside by themselves anymore saying this but I'm only gen z. Which is funny cause my 80 year old grandmother says stuff like that, but then also says that this mother should have been arrested.
¯\_ (ツ)_/¯