Episode Details

A Florida mom was arrested for leaving her four children, ages 9 to 14, home alone while she traveled for work—even though she'd arranged for a babysitter to check on them. Was this child neglect, or have we taken helicopter parenting too far? Michael revisits his own free-range childhood in the 1970s, when kids roamed neighborhoods unsupervised and independence was part of growing up. He questions whether today's parents are protecting their children or robbing them of essential life experiences. Callers share astonishing stories from their own childhoods, debate the Florida mother's arrest, and confront a provocative question: Would the parenting practices of yesterday get you thrown in jail today? Original air date 29 October 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.