My daughter is only 8, and anytime she uses the internet she is supervised. I think I will always supervise her on the internet, even when she is older. I watch Dateline, and am aware of how many pedophiles there are here, and not only on the internet.

I will probably be an "overprotective" mother, because in my view, it is better than not being protective enough. I know the type of things I did, especially in my teenage years, and am grateful that nothing worse happened to me than what did. If the internet were as widespread as it is now, I probably would have been one to at least have met someone online, but if offered a plane ticket somewhere at 16--I would have jumped on that, and God only knows what would have happend. I have ran away from home before, with a friend, and we were out for several days before "caught". We used to get in cars with people we did not know. I met people from chat lines (telephone). You don't have to tell me what can happen to young girls in that sense.

I am also aware of rare medical conditions and freak accidents. I know there are many things that can kill people. You don't have to look up any statistics for my benefit, you see this type of thing everyday on the news.

I never said this was a common thing. It is not my fear that it happens often that would prevent me from allowing my child to swim in a lake. She has never swam in a lake so far, so it is not anything she would miss. I'm saying I think there are alternatives, and I would choose those 1st, that's all.

And I am very good at poker and calculating my odds there