I was watching the US news earlier today, and there was a report on a "free-range parenting" law passed in Utah. The report mentioned Oregon as one of the states where kids under ten are not supposed to be left alone/unsupervised.

The law states: "163.545 Child neglect in the second degree. (1) A person having custody or control of a child under 10 years of age commits the crime of child neglect in the second degree if, with criminal negligence, the person leaves the child unattended in or at any place for such period of time as may be likely to endanger the health or welfare of such child."

Under a silly rule like that, we, and I'd say a lot of parents in Japan, would be found guilty of neglect. Our boys (5 and 7) routinely go out and play by themselves, as do many of their friends from school. My main concern is whether they look both ways before crossing streets. 

When did Americans get so nervous? When I was a kid, my mother was more than happy to get rid of me for hours at at time. Be home before dark, I was told. And I usually was, albeit covered with mud and scratches.

The other day, I noticed my son had some bad bruises on his arms from karate. He was going to have his annual measurement-taking at school later that day, so I asked him what he would say if someone asked him where the bruises came from. He replied: "I'll tell them Momma did it."

We laughed about it at first, but I warned him against making a joke like that in America as it probably wouldn't end well.