Its only a bit of freedom..

From my kitchen sink I look straight out my window to the front of my house. I can see a very busy road...and yesterday during one of my 40 billion washing up attempts I spot a small boy playing alone. He is at most 2 1/2 . I watch him for about 10 minutes and there are no adults or oldre siblings in sight. He has a scooter with him that he is just a little too small for. Then the boy starts crossing the road..back and forth. Its too much , I have to do something. I go outside to help him cross the road. This boy is too young to tell me his name. He follows me back to my house without question. I don't know what to do. I decide to just wait outside with him while I work out what to do for the best.Eventually a older girl on a bike comes round the corner , she is about 5, and say 'oi come on. home' And off the little boy trots. I am stunned. The little boy is clearly just out to play. He hasn't run off , nobody is frantic. He is just out to play. Over the course of the afternoon I spot him out there a couple more times. More than once I run out to help him across the road. The last time he cam out he was barefoot, in pyjamas and wet hair. Hes clearly had his evening bath and then been sent out again. Eventually his mum comes round the corner and takes him home to bed. Again no panic or anger. The boy is just out to play.

I feel stupid for being so freaked out. Am I so out of touc?. Should my kids (2 and 3 1/2) too be allowed such freedom? I never let them out of my sight. I am doing them a disservice? I'm afraid I will be seen as cruel ,mean, crazy. Am I the only one that thinks that children should be kept safe?