Some see a young child involved in creative play, hiding, pretending to be a spy, looking for other spies.Others, who would prefer a more sterile environment for children, may worry, could he get hurt, could he be trapped in the trunk, could the car be started and moved, will he play in more dangerous locations?
Maybe you can't decide, you are concerned. Look closer. Why the umbrella? He's learned not to climb into an enclosed area, but he's creative, so he made a safe hiding place. While he used to pretend to drive the car when young, he knows it is dangerous. His father keeps the keys to the car away from him at all times.
Still unsure? How about some history. In the "protective" mother's care, the boy suffered two broken arms and one facial laceration all of which needed a hospital visit, but she only took him once, the father took him once after work (no attention all night) and the laceration never received attention because the father wasn't informed for some time. The boy also started a fire in the microwave under her "supervision" requiring an evacuation of the house. Under the "poor judgement/litigant" father's care? Nothing even close.
His father knows dangers, he also knows the dangers of stifling overprotection. He tries to strike a balance, he tries to teach without being alarmist. He encourages creativity while closely supervising and advising. Teaching while playing. Being involved.
But others disagree, they only see negative possibilities. They don't see the interaction between father and son, the love between father and son, the lessons taught. For them the issue is deciding which parent should win and which should loose. Which parent is custodial and which is non-custodial, necessary and superfluous, home and visiting.
How do I know these details? That boy is my son!
For thousands of years it took two parents to contribute to a child's upbringing, today's society believes one is good enough. History will judge this folly harshly.
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