Danielle Meitiv: ‘Free Range’ Mom Speaks Out After Child Neglect Charges Cleared


Danielle Meitiv, a “free range” mom, is speaking out after the child neglect charges that were brought against her and her husband were cleared.

On Sunday, June 13, Danielle said she and her husband, Alexander Meitiv, received the court’s decision in a letter from Child Protective Services right as they were about to leave for vacation, according to the Washington Post. Because of confidentiality, CPS will not comment on the case.

Danielle and Alexander consider themselves to be “free range” parents of their two children, Dvora, 6, and Rafi, 10. They were first thrust into the media spotlight in December, when they allowed their children to walk home from the park alone. They explained that with their “free range” parenting practices, they allow their children more freedom, which includes letting them walk to the park alone.

Despite their intentions, CPS did not agree, and filed a child negligence case against them. That case was closed in May, but the second investigation, which was started after the police noticed the kids walking alone about a mile from their home, was still open. Now, that case has been closed as well.

The couple said they felt a sense of “relief and vindication” upon receiving the letter that stated that negligence was ruled out.

“I feel vindicated,” Danielle Meitiv said, according to Yahoo. “I’m really, really, really excited and relieved.”

“I’m just relieved to have these cases closed,” she added. “They’ve been hanging over our heads, and it’s been very trying for our family.”

“What we’re hoping this means is that they recognize we never should have been on their radar,” the Meitiv’s said prior to receiving their letter. “Nothing we have done should have triggered an investigation. The facts of the two are the same. They’re the same kids, we’re the same parents. They were walking in the same neighborhood … Neither case is neglect so we’re hopeful that CPS will just see that and move on.”

On Monday, the Meitiv’s pro bono attorney, Matthew J. Dowd, said, “We are not surprised that CPS has dropped its frivolous allegations. But its decision does not remedy the harm caused to the children when they were illegally detained by police and then CPS for over five hours. There were clear constitutional violations that need to be investigated and remedied.”

In April, along with the help of Empower Kids Maryland, the Meitivs organized “Take Your Kids to the Park … And Let Them Walk Home By Themselves Day.”

“When did we stop being a community of responsible adults all looking after each other and each other’s kids? When did we stop being a village – and start becoming a fearful nation, where two kids walking home from the park alone is suddenly cause for a 911 call and a CPS investigation?” the group’s website said.

“We don’t know exactly when it was, but it’s time to start swinging the pendulum back toward being a village. After all, it’s never been a safer time to be a kid in America. Responsible kids walking around our neighborhoods should be the norm – not the exception. That’s why we’re organizing Take Your Kids to the Park… And Let Them Walk Home By Themselves Day.

Do you agree with Danielle and Alexander Meitiv’s “free range” parenting style? Leave your comments below.

[Photo via Facebook / Danielle J. Meitiv]

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