Living in a time when kids' playtime lands parents in jail

[marmar]

By Mitch Albom
Detroit Free Press Columnist


I would like to offer a blood transfusion, free of charge, to every kid in America. Because clearly I have special plasma that allowed me to survive a traumatic childhood.

I walked to school, on my own, and survived. I walked to a park, on my own, and survived. I sat in a car, by myself, and survived.

Of course, I had one benefit. My parents were not arrested for any of the above. Today, growing up the way I did, I’d be visiting Mom and Dad behind bars.

Take the story of Nicole Gainey, the mother of a 7-year-old Florida boy. She had the audacity to recently let her son, Dominic, walk to a park on his own. For this, she was arrested, charged with child neglect and faces up to five years in prison. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freep.com/article/20140803/COL01/308030059/Mitch-Albom-Living-in-a-time-when-kids-playtime-lands-parents-in-jail