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Title: Free-Range Maryland Family Cleared of Child Neglect Charge
Source:
Reason
URL Source: https://reason.com/blog/2015/05/26/ ... -maryland-family-cleared-of-ch
Published: May 26, 2015
Author: Lenore Skenazy
Post Date: 2015-05-26 21:08:19 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 14277
Comments: 85
Hallelujah! Danielle and Alexander Meitiv have been cleared of any wrongdoing in the Dec. 20 incident when they let their kids walk home from the park in Silver Spring, Maryland. The Washington Post reports: A Maryland couple investigated for neglect after they let their two young children walk home alone from local parks have been cleared in one of two such cases, according to the family’s attorneys and documents. The new Child Protective Services finding, which follows an appeal, comes as the experiences of “free range” parents Danielle and Alexander Meitiv have drawn national attention, sparking debate about parenting choices and how far local officials should go to enforce laws designed to protect children. It overturns a previous CPS decision that held the Meitivs responsible for “unsubstantiated” child neglect, a finding typically made when there is conflicting or insufficient information for a more definitive conclusion. The change came as a welcome surprise to the Meitivs, who were informed in letters they received May 18 that neglect was “ruled out” in the case, which dates to their children’s December walk from Woodside Park. “It was an enormous relief and vindication,” Danielle Meitiv said in a Washington Post interview, the family’s first in six weeks. “Of course there’s no neglect here. There never was. There was never even a hint of it.” The Meitivs aren't in the clear yet, however; there's still a charge against them stemming from that other time they allowed their kids to walk home from a local park (the little recidivists). The kids were held for five hours, and the authorities didn't even notify the parents until about three hours in. “We’re hopeful it will be resolved in the same way,” Danielle Meitiv said. “The facts of the two are the same. They’re the same kids, we’re the same parents. They were walking in the same neighborhood. . . . Neither case is neglect so we’re hopeful that CPS will just see that and move on.” Danielle Meitiv said she stopped giving interviews April 13, both at the advice of lawyers and because the most recent experience became upsetting to talk about. She said she’s speaking out now in hopes the new ruling may assuage the fears of other parents who want to let their children venture outdoors to walk or play, but are worried about CPS involvement. “It’s also really good news,” she said. The Meitivs advocate free-range parenting, which encourages independence and exploration. The term was first coined in 2008 by New York journalist Lenore Skenazy, who developed a following for pushing back against what many saw as a hypervigilant “helicopter parent” culture. That New York journalist would like to clarify that she is not pushing back against helicopter parents—she feels parents can raise their kids however they see fit. She is (I hear) pushing back against an entire culture that sees children only through the lens of danger, trauma, and fragility, which then tends to overreact to any threat, no matter how remote. Just sayin'. But first, a woot of joy for justice, and for kids everywhere. Ye Olde Founding Mother suggests: Why not celebrate by having them walk to school today? Lenore Skenazy is host of the reality show “World’s Worst Mom” on the Discovery Life Channel, starting Jan. 22. She is also a public speaker and founder of the book and blog Free-Range Kids. 
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 33.
#2. To: Deckard (#0)
Well, it's not as though the parents were worried about them. Right?
Well, it's not as though the parents were worried about them. Right? I'm sure they were. Not surprising that you defend the cops abducting their kids and not notifying the parents for three hours.
It is an incredible journey this nation has taken. The last day of (my) 8th grade, me and my buds said to And we did. No school bus - nothin. We just left. Today, people would probably go to jail over that!
The last day of (my) 8th grade, me and my buds said to the teacher - 'Since it's the last day of school, can we leave early - like NOW?' (Lunchtime) Teach said: 'Take Off! ' And we did. No school bus - nothin. We just left. Just walked off of school grounds. Today, people would probably go to jail over that! I won't conform.
Of course not. Not until your 6-year-old or 10-year-old goes missing or is severely hurt because they were unsupervised. THEN you will go into full conformation mode, expecting everyone to fix your f**k-up. And therein lies the problem. You want the freedom to choose but not the responsibility that goes with that choice. If MY money is to be spent making things right for you, then I want some say-so in what you do. On the other hand, if you accept full responsibility for your decisions, then I don't care what you do.
THEN you will go into full conformation mode, expecting everyone to fix your f**k-up. Don't be a moron. The kids can go to the park by themselves. Did your mom keep you on a leash? For such a statist as yourself. That was pretty brave of you disagreeing with what the governments verdict was.
A 6-year-old and a 10-year-old at a park a mile from home? Forget abduction. What if the 10-year-old severely cut herself? Would the 6-year-old know what to do? How long would it take to get help from an adult? Oops. Too late. The kid bled out. Now what? I know. Sue the city. Sue the park district. Sue the playground equipment manufacturer for "unsafe" equipment.
The park my kids went to is more like 1/4 of a mile away. Them and their friends had a lot of fun at the park. I wish they were still little like that sometimes.
That's nice. But the kids in the article went to a park a mile from home. One was six and the other was ten.
Oh 13 football fields further.
There are no replies to Comment # 33. End Trace Mode for Comment # 33.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest"The kids were held for five hours, and the authorities didn't even notify the parents until about three hours in."
#3. To: misterwhite (#2)
(Edited)
"The kids were held for five hours, and the authorities didn't even notify the parents until about three hours in."
#4. To: Deckard, A K A Stone, misterwhite (#3)
(Edited)
"Free Range"
the teacher - 'Since it's the last day of school,
can we leave early - like NOW?' (Lunchtime)
Teach said: 'Take Off! '
Just walked off of school grounds.
#12. To: Chuck_Wagon (#4)
It is an incredible journey this nation has taken.
#14. To: A K A Stone (#12)
"I won't conform."
#19. To: misterwhite (#14)
Of course not. Not until your 6-year-old or 10-year-old goes missing or is severely hurt because they were unsupervised.
#26. To: A K A Stone (#19)
"The kids can go to the park by themselves."
#27. To: misterwhite (#26)
A 6-year-old and a 10-year-old at a park a mile from home?
#29. To: A K A Stone (#27)
"The park my kids went to is more like 1/4 of a mile away."
#33. To: misterwhite (#29)
But the kids in the article went to a park a mile from home. One was six and the other was ten.
Replies to Comment # 33.
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