As someone who has had a “run-in” with Social Services over something that my parents were much more lax about than I’ll ever be, I so appreciate the viewpoint of this article. I remember doing so many things as a child that I have a hard time allowing my own children to do. I heard one speaker once describing what is now known as “ecophobia” - fear of the outdoors. How sad! There are times in history that we have made changes that were for the better. But sometimes we do things that are not as progressive and healthy and wonderful as we think. I believe in taking care and being a good steward of body, soul and spirit, of ourselves and those in our care. But inducing a life-long fear of so many things is definitely wrong, and not proper stewardship. Something to think about.

And maybe I won’t be so overcome with guilt that I didn’t make my kids wear their lifejackets last year. We live right next to a river, but our beach is shallow, our kids are timid, and the most they did was wading up to their thighs. Of course they are not allowed to swim unattended. Plus a good portion of their time at the beach was in the sand.

What do you think?