Is it becoming too dangerous to sell lemonade?
By AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
Boston, Massachusetts
June 18, 2008 4:27pm CST
When I was a kid, setting up a lemonade stand was a typical way for kids to cool off and make a few pennies while learning about being industrious and working for what you want. But nowadays, is it safe?
If I were Dominique Morefield's mother I wouldn't be very happy that she risked her life chasing down a thief, but I would be very proud of her courage.
Dominique is the 12 year old girl who was running a lemonade stand when a man came up and demanded her profits. He took the $17.50 she had made at the stand and ran off. Dominique chased him until he went into a house and then called police. The police arrested the man and charged him with felony robbery.
I think this was the lowest act I have heard of in a long time, robbing little girls of their lemonade stand money. But the world is getting crazier and less safe all the time.
Does hearing this story make you think twice about letting your kids have a lemonade stand?
2 people like this
5 responses
@dfollin (24167)
• United States
18 Jun 08
What? A grown man robbed a 12 year old child for $17.50!
I have never heard that one. But,I was told that kids cannot have a lemonade stand,unless their parents get a food liscense.Laws are really getting weird.
I have never heard that one. But,I was told that kids cannot have a lemonade stand,unless their parents get a food liscense.Laws are really getting weird.
@dfollin (24167)
• United States
20 Jun 08
This story was mentioned about by Jay Leno last night and he was shocked as well and he said the good thing was the guy was arrested.
The courthouse said that is not a law,but if a cop comes along and say's that they have to close up then they do and the parent/parents can be arrested or get a ticket.
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
18 Jun 08
I think it's crazy to require a food license for a lemonade stand but it's a way for the town or city to make a buck off of it. I found it hard to believe that someone would do that too, but it makes you think twice before you let your kids out of your sight. Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@Tuffts (18)
• United States
19 Jun 08
One of the mothers I used to babysit for allowed her kids every summer to sell lemonade outside her house. They'd set up one of those tables and stuff. They lived in the country so she never worried about anything like in the story you posted. One day they had this woman actually physically grab them and said sh had left her money in the car. Well, both the mother and father heard the kids screaming and the woman just left. Luckily the kids were fine, but she never let them sell lemonade again. Crazy huh? What kind of society have we become?
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
19 Jun 08
Wow, the kids must have been terrified! That's the problem, even in places we used to think of as safe and quiet, still have these things going on.
I guess it's that element of unknown dangers that is the most frightening. I do worry about what kind of society it is and I don't think any parent ever stops worrying when these kinds of stories surface in the news.
@RebeccaLynn (2256)
• United States
18 Jun 08
My children have had a lemonaide stand before bot at the time we lived in a very small town and their stand was right next door to a church. Since we have moved though, no. I wouldn't let them do it here. You just never know who you can trust.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
18 Jun 08
We always did it as kids, and we stood at the end of our street which intersected with a busier street. I have seen lemonade stands round and about town, but I never realized before how vulnerable these kids are to anyone driving or walking by. I don't think I would let my kids do it either, not these days.
@jashley1 (746)
• United States
18 Jun 08
We are living in a crazy world nowadays. I don't even let my kids go play in the front yard. However, my oldest is not even 5. But I think it is dangerous if you don't know your neighborhood and you should always have an adult watching and supervising you if you are doing something like this.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
18 Jun 08
I used to think I was the only one who felt unsafe with the kids out in the front yard. They aren't as young as yours anymore but I still keep close tabs on them when they are outside. I definitely think an adult should supervise if the kids have a lemonade stand or are going to be in a vulnerable position while playing. Thanks for responding.
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
18 Jun 08
I read it on the Fox News website. I hadn't really thought about it before, the possibility that someone would rob a bunch of little kids. The guy who did it was 18 years old. I find it scary that she actually chased him, because who knows what he might have done if he'd looked behind him to see her?
