[CTMRIop]

I don't think all the parent-bashing is fair in this case. I had no curfew at 14 because I was responsible (already had a job - in MD you can work at 14) and also stubborn and insisted on an intelligent conversation about it with my parents.

I stayed out all night at times because I'm a natural born night-owl. Never did drugs and never got into trouble.

I realize I, and others like me, may be exceptions, but you can't just blindly blame parents when you don't know the full story of their family.

We do have freedom, guaranteed in the Constitution, to parent as we see fit. The freedom worked for me. Parental rules will not protect your child from random crazies like the guy in this story. In another scenario, it could have happened while she walked to the mail box at 3pm, or more likely if she were in a post office.

[wideawake]

I'm assuming you are male.

Depending on a child's personality I can see a boy making the case that he will be responsible - I wouldn't buy it, but I can see the argument.

With a girl I know that whether or not she is as responsible as can be, she is target for people who would want more than just her wallet.

There is a crucial difference.

[Diplomat]

I witnessed the mom state on TV last night that she knew where her daughter was. Is the mom utterly stupid, or just completely niave? Rave party means drugs. The mom knew.

[Paradox]

The parent bashing IS justified in this case, and probably in your parents case as well. I had a similar youth to yours, but I am honest enough to admit that my parents were probably stupid as hell for letting me do what I did.

I sometimes have problems dealing with my older kids, because I "feel" bad restricting them more than my parents did me, but I "know" thats the right way to be.