[DJ MacWoW]

You are right. Anything can happen anytime. I watch ours assuming the worst can happen.

Look out. You will be defamed by other posters for speaking common sense, accused of picking on this Mom in the face of tragedy etc. Parental common sense is an awful thing on this thread. It's "egotistical"

[sine_nomine]

Our son got into chairs stacked on a cart at church. They started to fall over. He was fine. Our granddaughters are similar.

I don't care if people pick on me. I hold hands with my granddaughters in the parking lot. My view of children's common sense is very pessimistic. I remember my own foolishness too well.

[Warren_Piece]

Some of this conversation just boils down to BIOLOGICAL differences between mothers and fathers - and how it affects their view of parenting. Most mothers will do everything in their power to protect their children from every possible danger. Most fathers will look at their 10-year-old and ask "Don't you have a job yet?"

Seriously, Dads are there to counteract the mother's smothering lest the kids grow up to be basket cases (and unable to take care of themselves). We encourage our children to take risks (yes, from a very young age).

As a total aside, this is why it is ideal for children to have a male and a female parent. One needs both outlooks to develop properly. AND Neither parent's outlook should be the dominant one.