Another Movie Thread - Because We Love Them So

[kandrathe]

"Well, any parent that allows their child to walk unsupervised near a swimming pool is a BAD PARENT!" And it's hard to argue with that. The possibility of a child drowning when not walking near a pool is zero, and possibility of a child drowning when walking near a pool is greater than zero. Solution? Never allow your child to go near water, ever.

Beyond being convicted by the media hype, there is also the law.

Minnesota Code - 609.378 — Neglect or endangerment of a child.
"Subdivision 1. Persons guilty of neglect or
endangerment. (a) Neglect. (1) A parent, legal
guardian, or caretaker who willfully deprives a child of
necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care, or supervision
appropriate to the child's age, when the parent, guardian, or
caretaker is reasonably able to make the necessary provisions
and the deprivation harms or is likely to substantially harm the
child's physical, mental, or emotional health is guilty of
neglect of a child and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not
more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than
$3,000, or both."

The arguable phrase above being "supervision appropriate to the child's age". Is it my opinion as parent, or that of a judge or a jury of my peers? According to the wording of this law, it is neglect if my son is playing in the yard unsupervised and witnesses something that gives him nightmares (e.g. black bear slays a deer). Although, if I was watching him when he experienced the same event and had the same nightmares, then I wouldn't be neglectful. If you were a zealous prosecutor, you might even construe this law to apply when parents allow their children to watch PG movies (perhaps Mommie Dearest) without supervision. (<-- notice how I deftly kept this on topic )

Anyway, the cultural connotation is that good parents do not leave their children unattended. Many studies link parental over-protection to neurotic cowardly children (exhibiting functional somatic symptoms* -- i.e. anxiety disorders).

* MS Word now includes the squiggly blue line.