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MethDozer Some do. I agree that the concepts of scheduling "play dates" and helicoptering parents so traumatized by their paranoias are largely overkill. Those kids are not being prepared for the real world. But there are at least as many running amok with the parents wanting to play buddy buddy rather than providing any discipline at all either imho.
It reminds me of when my youngest graduated from Jr. High in the mid-80's. He was a big train buff then -- both model and real (still is) -- so a graduation present I said he could accompany me on a business trip to Cleveland and then we would take the Zephyr back home from Chicago. I told my counterpart who was hosting the meeting to not do anything special, that my son could entertain himself while we were in the meetings. She, a suburban parent, was horrified that I would leave my son on his own in a downtown Cleveland hotel. I kept trying to tell her don't worry about it, he lives in downtown Oakland and has street smarts. She insisted her son come in from their suburban home and chaperone him for the day. The kid shows up in camouflage dress and a copy of Survival Magazine in his backpack. At the end of the day I get back to my hotel room to find a note from my son saying "I finally shook the kid. Have gone down to the submarine to check it out." This is a kid who at dinner one night said "I found out how far down East 14th I feel safe in taking my bike today." I asked, "How far was that" He told me and his answer was spot on with my assessment. He wasn't going to take stupid risks. But he also knew how to treat others civilly and with respect, which you see less and less of -- by adults as well as kids.
