"No 5 yr old should be out alone ever!"
Agreed! And forty years ago, when I was 5, I wasn't allowed out alone either. We did live in a big city, but bad things happen to people in all sorts of places.
When my daughter was in first grade I would walk her to school and wait until it opened. Every day there was this beautiful little girl, also in first grade (maybe it was even kindergarten) waiting alone by the gate. She must have been the first to arrive each day. This was in Jersey City, NJ. I thought her parents must have been out of their minds to leave her alone like that, every day.
It only takes about 30 seconds for tragedy to happen. Believe me. My cousin was snatched off the street, never to be seen or heard from again. And she was a grown woman, and a fine,upstanding person, not into any bad activities. So it can happen.
I see the wonderful parents you had produced another wonderful parent! I love to hear about parents cherishing their children!