It takes a village to raise a child; but must I be a villager?

[ms_kilian]

Although I have chosen a child-free existence, I do from time to time enjoy interacting with and getting to know children. As with adults, there are some kids whose company I do not enjoy, and others whom I look forward to seeing again. I like to think that, in general, kids like hanging out with me too.

I have noticed a pattern of behaviour in the

Comments

[celsa]

"those of my non-SCA friends with children would never dream of behaving in this way"

So tell me; how do they behave? What is it that they do differently?

[hometime]

I'm with you. There have been times at events when we've ended up with a group of kids, but then have to do something else or be somewhere else. And there are no parents in sight! Do we leave the kids without supervision? Stay? Look for a parent?

Note: these are times when there has been NO prior arrangement with the parents that we will look after their kids (there are a few people who have asked us to mind kids for short periods of time- this is generally ok).

[etfb]

I've noticed the same thing from some parents over the years (including the majority of the years, the ones when I was never in a million years going to be a parent myself). But I think you're overestimating the danger. Kids aren't as vulnerable to harm, or as dumb, as you think. Parents usually calibrate pretty well, because those people who don't have the ability to estimate their children's tolerances don't generally get to be grandparents; evolution always wins in the end

[ant_queen]

As another intentionally child-free adult, I understand exactly what you mean

[astemudfoot]

I wrote a long winded reply to this but it got eaten. Which is a good thing, as it means I will try to be succinct