Does any of this bring us around to the topic of "helicopter parenting?"

I have some friends that I can actually see driving their kids insane.

And one can still see children playing in the streets..... of communities like mine that are not upscale, where no one can afford the time away from work to be a soccer mom, there are few "programs," and folks do not have $$ for dance, pottery workshop, drama, karate, piano, or BMX lessons and their requisite gear.

See! It's just like so many places that "World Music" comes from. Trust me, there IS world music in my hood...every sunny Saturday when our neighbor runs a free carwash collective for all 63 of his cousins.

I think they only BBQ what they've killed themselves.

Always call the place you live a house. When you're old, everyone else will call it a home.