For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 09, 2013

Uh-oh.

The instant fear that hits your heart -— did some deranged person snatch her?? There are so many sickos running loose.

You WERE early.

That’s the worst fear…losing your child in a crowded place

I have to agree with you. There really aren’t any more “sickos” out there than there were when we were kids. The media has blown it so far out of proportion that parents who allow their children to walk to school or ride a non-school bus alone as we did are vilified. Sad, really.

That being said, the feeling of losing your child in a crowd is sheer panic, even if it is only for a few seconds.

Please let us not turn the comments into an excuse to post rants about media or guns or brainwashing. There are plenty of other locations to set up your soap box – please don’t do it here. Some of us actually still use comics as an ESCAPE from things like that.

I agree with JanCinLV about how we’ve turned society into a scary place where our children are only allowed in closely monitored situations. I try to give my kids opportunities to be on their own, but it’s so hard when no one else is outside playing. I find bawana ’s comment about boomers amusing since it was boomers who are the most guilty of helicopter parenting. Funny how they didn’t parent how they were parented (I’m sure I’ll be slammed by the exceptions, but it’s true in general)

and watch Lizzie get the blame! lol

I used to slip away from my mother in public places just to follow her like a spy while she looked for me… she knew I did it intentionally though (later in life, she admitted she made sure she could see me but pretend not to). It was a game to me until one day I lost sight of her in the Air & Space Museum, panicked and security had to save me.

One of those truly heart stopping moments for any parent or caretaker of children.

Here we go…

I think she ought to have left Lizzie with a neighbour and she and John ought to have gone and picked up Michael by themselves.

Mom not smart enough to do that

From Liz, to Lizzie, to

Lizzie has been missing her big brother, and to go to the airport to meet him would be a big treat. Most parents would do the same.

Don’t feel like fixing up the comment above. So I’ll add that in the last sentence, I meant that she’ll let her kids cross the street, not the sex offenders. Sorry.

And why didn’t she have the kid’s hand the entire time? And a harness on the kid with the strap securely attached to her wrist or belt?

Well of course it’ll be alright. This entire strip is in re-runs and we all know Liz grows up with her mom and dad to become a teacher.

re: Lynn – there’s a fix for that. The harness goes on and the leash gets used regardless of the temper tantrum until she just gives up and gets used to it. (yes, I have kids and yes I use those halters).

Lost one once on a cruise ship. Turns out he was exactly where we told him to be – only he was in fan chair facing the back of the area and none of us could see him. We were a little embarrassed telling that to ship security. All ended well.

911

A child is not a dog and doesn’t belong on a leash. If you are by yourself and need help with a kid, then ask for it. A harness and leash…. what’s next…a muzzle?

My name is Sharon Sophia, but when I was golden, to my mom I was Sherrie-Anne. If I was not quite so golden, I was Sharon. If I was in trouble, I got the Sharon Sophia. When I got the full three names, I hid.

I know the feeling … I lost my daughter Elisabet (same name, Catalan form) in Girona when she was not quite three years old. We were a bunch and we all assumed she was with somebody else … the terror, the horror, until, thank God!, we found her kept at the municipal police station at the entrance of the Girona City Hall … That half hour I was dying inside. And finding her was such a release of joy and thankfulness! (Now she is happily married and mother of two wonderful kids!)

Really stupid parent! A child that age should either be strapped down in a stroller or wear a harness and leash.

The average dog has more sense than a small child. If a parent MUST take a small child to a chaotic environment like an airport, the child should definitely have a harness & leash on.

How about instead of a leash, you bring along a child helper? I have seen adults with leashed children in public, ridiculed and harassed by said public. You do open yourself to if you go out with your kid on a harness and leash. You deserve it. I don’t think I mind attached wrist bands on parent and child as much as leash and harness.