(no subject)

[sublimatedangel]

I know that, as a parent, the idea of something happening to your child goes directly to the most innate part of you, bypassing your higher consciousness... but we as a society cannot allow ourselves to be ruled by what-ifs. Not every man with a child is a criminal.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703779704576073752925629440.html

Personal note: Nate's been harrassed by parking lot security while carrying our sons and while changing dirty diapers, and I know he's not the only father it happens to. He is the kind of person who makes friendly small talk with the people around him, and has learned to police himself when it comes to children because even in clear view and hearing of multiple parents, with his own kids running circles around his legs, just acknowledging or speaking to a kid sometimes garners dirty/suspicious looks.

Comments

[squirrel94085]

It is a challenge sometimes as a father out and about without the mother. I have the challenge that not every place has family restrooms so I wind up having to take my daughters into the mens room to use the bathroom or change them. I'm also fairly social but do police myself when small children approach me at the mall or a restaurant or wherever. Other dads are usually cool to talk with me, regardless of when I have my kids with me, but often times mothers will speak as little as possible, even when I've got my own in tow.

[riveroceansea.livejournal.com]

That's so sad. How did we get so paranoid?

[allyndra.livejournal.com]

That's horrible.

There's a line in a Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip song that goes, "Thou shalt not think that any male over the age of 30 that plays with a child that is not their own is a pedophile; some people are just nice." I always thought it was a kind of silly lyric, but now it seems insightful into this sort of problem. :(