I have a park directly across the street from my house, when I walk over there and sit on a bench, the mothers keep closer to their kids. They are well advised to do so but little do they know that their kids are safer with me than with their teachers.
Neighbor kids play in my yard and one asked me once if he could use my bath room, I told him no, to go home and use his own. Sounds grouchy of me doesn’t it? Just covering my own a$$.
Years ago, when my daughter was very young, I saw her talking to a woman standing across the street. She must have just gotten her hair done at a neighbor's home based salon across the street. At first glance, panic struck me and I screamed for her to come in doors. I was embarrassed after I thought about it...
I worked in a "home office" for a year or so, and the couple had two girls something like 9 & 11. Once (and only once) the wife mentioned that she was going to make a Wally World run and just leave the kids with me.
It didn't happen...and the situ never arose again.
Good call.
My husband avoids interaction with kids like the plague so’s not to be accused of anything inappropriate.
When it’s time to take my daughter’s friends home, I’m the one who does it and even then I insist that she accompany me, but that’s merely a courtesy thing.
If my husband absolutely has to take them home, she absolutely has to be with him.