Walkabout

Sunday, March 22, 2009

filed under: family

Karyn Bryant: Last night my husband and I were invited to our friend's house to hang out. Our daughter loves her two kids, so spending time together is always fun. Our little ones ran around, giggled and fought gently over toys as we chatted and snacked in the back yard. As the sun set, another pal from the neighborhood came by -- a nice little girl welcomed by all of us. But, the thing is, she came alone. And she's three.

In some places (Mayberry, perhaps?) a 3-year-old walking out the front door and crossing the street at dusk without supervision may not be a big deal. But in my mind, and in Los Angeles, it most certainly is. My husband freaked! He couldn't believe what he was seeing. And he nearly choked when my friend told him that this was a regular occurrence. "Sometimes," she said, "it's an hour or more before someone comes looking for her."

I know the little girl's parents and they are nice people, but apparently quite often they don't even realize that their kid has left the house! WTH???? How is that even possible? I understand that munchkins want to explore and may succeed in escaping once or twice, but there is no way my daughter could be out of earshot for more than a few minutes without me checking up on her. And what about this angle: maybe they do know she's gone, and they are consciously foisting her upon my friend.

I don't think we need to call CPS, but there is definitely a problem here. I can't even decide what's more bothersome. Is it the lax parenting? The babysitting that my friend has to do for free and without warning? Or the fact that the kid could get hurt (or worse) while strolling around? Yikes.

Karyn Bryant is a television personality who's hosted shows on networks such as CNN, TNT, VH1, and MTV. She's currently a reporter for Showtime Championship Boxing and CBS' Saturday Night Fights, and "the EVP/Director of MMAheat.com, an online destination for fans of MMA and pop culture." She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.

27 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

me thinkest that APPALEDATAPPALLLED” is Karyn herself! Check our her resume? what? Where did that come from? LOLOLOL

- Mom2Be

Posted 03/23/09 08:14 PM

I guess my comment was too long. Shall I continue please? ………”So that just goes to show you that you can’t judge a book by the cover, and old adage we should always remember when dealing with people. Even if the cover seems bitter and full of hate, it might be that the person is passionate about what the topic is.” The end.

- Melissa K

Posted 03/23/09 08:18 PM

appalledAtKaryn, I hate people like you. Yes, hate. With your self-righteousness and “my way is the only way” attitude, combined with being too lazy to personally get involved, you cause drama and destruction to other people in the name of your own inflated ego. You’re a much bigger problem than these parents who let their 3-year-old walk out the door alone. Calling CPS on someone will ruin their lives. You can get off your butt and go talk to them first. Or better yet, just shut up and go back to your soaps.

- Stacy

Posted 03/25/09 10:01 AM

I think CPS definitely needs to be called here….she’s only 3 and she’s crossing the street!

- me

Posted 03/25/09 12:11 PM

Karyn— I would like to know if you came up with a solution? I have a similiar problem only the child is 8 or 9. When I looked up answers on CPS here it says: You should call the child abuse hotline whenever you believe that a person who is caring for the child, who lives with the child, or who works with or around children has caused injury or harm or put the child at risk of physical injury as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Some examples include: If you see someone hitting a child with an object. If you see marks on a child’s body that do not appear to have been caused by accident. If a child tells you that he or she has been harmed by someone. If a child appears to be undernourished, is dressed inappropriately for the weather, or is young and has been left alone. Clearly 3 counts for young and left alone but does 8 or 9? What do you think?

- WonderingAlso

Posted 05/06/09 09:29 PM

Shees, stacy sounds like she’s had CPS called on her too many times!!!!! Get over yourself, honey. No one in MY home watches soaps. Sounds like that’s your thing from the looks of your grammer.

- appalledAtKaryn

Posted 05/24/09 08:15 AM

YOU NEVER EVER EVER!! leave your child alone! If I ever see something like this I will not hesitate to call the police and let them Know WTH is going on with those idiots this poor kid has as parents . I’m a mother and former childcare provider and I’ll certainly won’t enable this kind of behavior from other parents in my neighborhood or anywhere else we can’t take any chances in the world we live in nowadays so freaking WAKE UP people!! If you are not completely capable of care, teach and raise a child DO NOT HAVE ONE!

- HappyMom!

Posted 10/25/09 11:01 PM

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