CPS Threatens Dad: Let Your Kids Play Outside and We'll Take Them Away

Reason.com ^ | December 23, 2014 | Lenore Skenazy

[Altariel]

I received an update from the Maryland mom of two who was contacted by Montgomery Country Child Welfare Service in November after she let her kids, ages 6 and 10, play at the park two blocks from home by themselves. She was cited for allowing a child under age 8 "to be locked or confined in a dwelling, building, enclosure, or motor vehicle while the person charged is absent."

The CPS worker decided "confined in a dwelling" was the same thing as "outside in a park."

The higher ups at child services agreed that this was insane, and the case was closed—until this week. As the mom wrote in an email to me:

It seemed that we had called their bluff and they were going to leave us alone. Not for long. This past Saturday, while I was out of town, my husband dropped my kids off at a park about 1 mile from our house and said they could walk home together. They got 1/2 way when someone called the police.

"Shots Will Be Fired"

The kids were picked up in a patrol car and brought home. The policewoman asked to see my husband's ID. When he refused, she said she was going to call for back-up. He said he would get his ID and went to go upstairs. She said - in front of the kids - that if he came down with anything else, "shots would be fired."

At this point 10 yr old. called me crying, saying that the police were there and that Daddy was going to be arrested. My husband stepped outside to continue the conversation away from the kids. When he disagreed with one of the officers about the dangers that walking alone posed to the kids, she actually asked him: "Don't you watch TV?" (The answer was no). They took notes and left.

"Sign This or We Take Your Kids"

Two hours later someone from Child Welfare showed up with a temporary plan, which they wanted my husband to sign, stating that he would not leave the children unsupervised until Monday when someone from their office could contact him.

He refused.

She called the police, saying that if he didn't sign they would take the kids away right then.

He signed.

This is outrageous. We refuse to deprive our children of critical opportunities to develop responsibility and independence, and have no intention of fundamentally changing our parenting to accommodate this kind of paranoia and bullying, but it's not going to be easy. We are now waiting for the call from Child Welfare and looking for someone who can give us legal advice on these issues in Maryland.

I have to admit when I read stories on your site and elsewhere about CPS threatening to take kids away, I never thought it could happen to us. I'll keep you posted.

Best, Danielle Meitiv

I'll keep you posted, too, readers. Since when are children not supposed to play outside on their own? And what gives the state the right to take them from their parents when they do?

[yarddog]

It actually is a different world tho it probably wasn’t as safe as we assumed it was way back then.

I was a free range kid from about the age of 4 but probably only because I had two older brothers who I was always with.

I actually fell in the spring when I was four but my oldest brother jumped in and pulled me out. I was trying to reach a drinking glass which we left on a cut off branch.

I would not even think of allowing my Grandkids to roam around like that.

[Triple]

If you must sign (like this) also write “without prejudice.”

[SZonian]

Maybe, but in my experience, once those good little brownshirts at CPS get your kids, it’s near impossible to get them back and the cost can be high.

Not only in terms of lawyer fees and court costs, but in time, frustration, and the neglect the children will face when placed in foster care.

Live to fight another day, but do anything and everything to keep them kids OUT of the CPS’s hands.

[steve86]

I know you have lived in the northwest. Here in small towns in eastern Oregon and Washington we still allow the kids reasonable independence and freedom to choose their play sites. Not saying there never, ever is an unsavory character that comes by -- but that's been true forever. It's a tiny risk but then over-protectiveness is a definite, known risk.

[Star Traveler]

I do think that much went on “outside of the law” and then also, “outside of our Constitution” back in those days ... and as you say a “vigilante-type justice”. However, when one acts more in line with the U.S. Constitution, and less on vigilante justice, then you are going to have an “attitude” from some, in committing their crimes and demanding their Constitutional rights in the process. Unless we want to scrap much of the U.S. Constitution and go more to vigilante justice, this is how it’s going to be.

[wbill]

Yep, it’s very much a “dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t” process. Laws work best for those who want to follow them.

[offwhite]

"The answer in Maryland is:"

... take parental responsibility and watch your children.

[dalereed]

You are a freak!!!!

[Star Traveler]

No ... I am someone who doesn’t get their kid kidnapped ... :-) ...

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

“America is a prison.”

You mean.....I can check out any time I like but I can never leave? ;-)

Or.....can I break out?

Can you break out?

[Vendome]

Only in East Tulsa...like past Garnett

LOL

I know you don’t live there but, recently found out an old girlfriend does.

[two134711]

There are school districts that will not let children off buses unless there are authorized guardians to pick them up. Usually for the younger grades and in various kinds of areas, urban or suburban.

There was an article earlier this year about a bus driver who refused to let the kids off the bus on the first or second day of school because there wasn’t one parent for every child. He then tried to run over the parents as they blocked the bus when he tried to drive away. The parents stormed the bus to get their kids and there was big brouhaha, with most people siding with the bus driver and calling the parents “animals.” I sided with the parents, as kids belong to them, not the government.

But our superiors have ruled children must be supervised at all times by the approved authorities or else they will be taken away. Obey or else.

[Star Traveler]

No ... not there, but I do live about a mile from the “shoot ‘em up area” of Tulsa ... 61st and S. Peoria!

[Pollster1]

... take parental responsibility and watch your children.

I'm fond of taking true responsibility and giving children increasing levels of autonomy as they demonstrate a level of responsibility that justifies that autonomy. Responsibility isn't following lockstep with the most panicked parent in the neighborhood; responsibility is making the right decisions for your own children.

[RetiredTexasVet]

“The higher ups at child services agreed that this was insane, and the case was closed—until this week.”

Bingo. A CPS worker pi$$ed off is a creation that could only by suffered by Satan himself. You might as well sell the house and move because it will be like fighting the walking dead!!!!!!

[Vendome]

yep.

I remember where you live.

I lived on Rockford and 50th for a year.

[Altariel]

For what purpose?

[Rebelbase]

Indeed, the 70’s were the end of paradise. In grade school we would leave early in the morning and be gone all day exploring miles of shore along the Mississippi. Parents had no clue where we were. So long as we were home by supper time and not bleeding all was well.

[Star Traveler]

http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/W/WithoutPrejudice.aspx

[Glad2bnuts]

My wife never did either, and that was in the 80’s. They were very sheltered and although outgoing and happy, they are full of phobias.