When you brag about not wanting to know where your kids are for three days and not wanting them to bother you, that really hits me hard. That’s exactly how my parents were and I suffered a lifetime of heartache. Sorry if my tone was sharp but hearing this and seeing all of the “we all turned out just fine” comments makes me actually ill. No, we don’t all turn out just fine and it’s a luck and privilege to say that. It makes me feel rageful. You’re lucky to not feel that, but don’t overlook the signs please.

Angel…I have to agree with you! I found this article so funny for several reasons….the two main ones being that it is totally reminiscent of my summers and….that I am one of the moms who does try to do Pinterest things and buys hot dogs without nitrates, etc…you get the picture. Anyway, if one reads the article the way I think Melissa intended, one would see (I think, unless I’m way off here) that Melissa might actually have been poking fun at herself as well.

Jean…it seems that maybe there’s a whole lot more going on than you just disagreeing with Melissa. You seem to personally have had much trauma during your 70’s summers and I’m sorry for that, but to insinuate that Melissa is making fun of or judging others is wrong. You are the one who is passing judgement on her!

The only person talking about bad parenting here is you. I saw a list of excessive activities, and an alternative list, not an attack on anyone personally.

Do you know why lists like this exist? Because of people like you who describe others as ” not caring less about being involved in their children’s lives” when that’s not remotely what was going on.

Yeah, how about those that didn’t?

Oh Angel, wanting to schedule fun things for our kids and keeping an eye on them from a distance isn’t bad parenting either. Sanctimonious is the definition of this article. It would’ve been fine to wax nostalgic about the seventies without putting others down, but that wouldn’t have been as snarky. This child of the seventies survived, albeit with that pesky trauma of being sexually abused, losing friends to cars, drownings, and two almost-kidnappers, but hey, I’m just a terrible helicopter mom for not wanting my kids to repeat that experience. You all should think a little before judging people to make yourselves feel better.

Oh,Jean. A parent who can see the value in kids playing on their own and using their imagination instead of being scheduled from dawn to dusk is not the same as a parent who doesn’t care. Great sanctimonious comment though. 4 stars.