Did We Overreact?

[Booldawg]

Our Daughter is staying with her Grandparents for a few weeks over the Summer holidays.

Yesterday her Grandparents had allowed our Daughter (who is 8) and her cousin (who is 5) to sleep in a tent - on their own- in the back garden.

They live in fairly large town, not that it makes any difference. We were against the idea of 2 young girls, on their own, to sleep outside in a tent.

Grandma had said 'its ok Grandad will sleep downstairs' But we still weren't comfortable with that arrangement.

It all ended up a bit tense between my wife and her mum (the grandparent). The girls were brought back it at midnight as the argument was going on via text or whatever.

The Grandma feels she is being accused of being a bad Grandparent etc etc. LOL, hopefully they smooth things over as we're going up there in a few weeks time!

Would you have been happy with this sleeping arrangement? or did we over-react?

[hc4361]

naomi, I said many, not all.

[whiskeryron]

// Sorry, but that sort of sweeping statement makes me very angry. //

Sorry but some of your answers make me wonder what planet you're from.

WR.

[AB Editor]

I can't see what you were actually worried about in any of your posts? What did you imagine would happen to them? Assuming there was a way for them to convey a message of emergency (such as "it's a bit colder and scarier than I thought and would like to sleep in a bed now please Grandad") then I am not sure what the concern was?

[anneasquith]

id say you are lucky to have such good grandparents to look after your daughter for 2 weeks. most likely the children would have got fed up with the novelty and gone inside anyway, if I were the grandparent. id be a bit miffed !!!!!!!!!!!

[boxtops]

Personally, I think they're a bit too young, but most of us camped in the garden when we were younger - my parents certainly left the back door unlocked and lights on in the kitchen, for reassurance.

[whiskeryron]

methyl my comments were directed to hc4361 in answer to this
//
hc4361
WR, there are no more predators now than there was years ago. Don't forget that many of the child abuse cases that have made the news in recent years are historic - the events happened years ago.
It's 50 years since Hindley and Brady were snatching kids off the streets.
Sorry, but that sort of sweeping statement makes me very angry. //

WR>

[coccinelle]

I've had nieces and nephews thinking how great it would be to sleep in a tent in my garden but by about 1am they're back inside in their beds... owls, night animals, the moths (if a torch has been left on) the mosquitos all contribute. They'd probably have come back in not long after...

[ummmm]

hc is correct. It's no more dangerous now. Keep them in and wrap them in cotton wool and end up with clueless teenagers.

[hc4361]

That is usually exactly what happens - it is a lot colder than the children expected, they hear frightening noises (mice, foxes, birds), the moths and bugs scare them and they eventually get back in to their nice, snug beds by 2am. House secure, granddad back in bed himself.

It is a very sad fact that the majority of child abuse, even murder, is caused by a parent, family member or somebody trusted by the family.

[Mosaic]

....but maybe discussing it in advance would have avoided the bust-up?

[woofgang]

Sophie Hook! I am shamed that I didn't remember this little girl's name.

[hc4361]

Don't forget the 8 year old Gemma Lawrence abducted from a caravan's open window while the family were sleeping in the same caravan.

Or June Devaney who has abducted from her hospital cot and murdered in 1948.

Children have been snatched from the streets in broad daylight, sometimes when they were with a parent.

Horrible things happen, but they are still very rare occurrences that should not cast long shadows over our children's lives and stop them from enjoying simple pleasures.

[naomi24]

The McCanns were practically crucified on here for leaving their little girl in bed on a secure complex yards from where they were dining, wide awake, and in view of the apartment – and yet now people can see no wrong in going to bed and leaving two little girls outside alone in a tent all night. Doesn’t make sense to me.

And Ummmm, there are no clueless teenagers around here. Far from it.

[hc4361]

How is it different to letting your children play in the garden during the day on their own, naomi?

[naomi24]

When your children are playing in the garden, it's daylight, you're around - and you're awake.

[ummmm]

Where's 'around here' though?

When my kids were younger some of their friends didn't even know how to cross a road.