Linda....I wasn't sure how to respond to your post. I grew up in a very small town where everyone knew everyone else's business, and watched out for each others kids. If we were too loud, too mischievous, etc., and in later years....drove too fast, our parents soon heard about it and we felt the consequences. We thought nothing of walking or riding our bikes, as a group, in the dark to the neighbors. On our street, a block away, my mother's uncle lived with his wife and four kids. And my best childhood friend lived two doors down from us. We were a pack every summer. I can't recall any kid who was ever mistreated. And I didn't live a sheltered life. We weren't poor, but we sure weren't rich. I hate to think of you remembering mean kids and parents. I didn't experience mean kids until 9th grade...and that was enough.
I'm sure you're younger than I am, but it does seem that the world is getting scarier by the minute. I was an admitted over protective parent.....and I can't imagine what it'll be like for my grandson when he's old enough to walk to the neighbor's by himself. Our daughter will probably be "shadowing" him. I have said more than once, I wouldn't want to raise a teenager now.
