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"Do you have children, and if so, are you the primary care-giver?"

Read above posts, yes I am a father of an 16 month old beautiful baby girl. I AM THE primary caregiver. Mother is as well.

So I am not a hypocrit here just blowing hard at the mouth. I am a parent and hold true to my word in reference to children. You would think by now that parents would actually "get it" when it comes to being a responsible parent. To many "whackos" out there not to.

"You would think by now that parents would actually "get it" when it comes to being a responsible parent."

I do not view it as irresponsible for parents to allow an 11 year old girl to walk home from a friend's house in broad daylight - except perhaps in the worst of neighborhoods.

Having said that, it doesn't sound like this girl was supposed to be walking home anyway - her step dad was going to pick her up, but she left anyway.

When I grew up, admittedly in the Stone Age, we rode our bikes (or walked) all over the city by age 11 and came inside at night when the street lights came on. We took the bus to movies, though usually with an older brother or sister. When my kids were that age (70's/80's), they never had that kind of freedom, but there were times they did walk to and from school. The point is that times have changed, but when your child gets older, you'll find that plans do not always work out. I was a super careful parent yet we practically had our own parking spot at the local emergency room.

Even the most responsible parents can have a missed connection picking up their child. When my first child was 16 months old, I would have probably said the same things as you, but I learned that life doesn't always work according to plan, no matter how noble the intentions. Do your best and pray that your kids grow up safely, but don't come down so hard on this girl's folks.