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Wilton Armetale!
While Supplies Last!
For a limited time only, Wilton Armetale's" unique Salad Bowl and Servers set can
be yours for only $69.95. A guaranteed conversation piece at every dinner parts'!
Don't miss this exclusive opportunity Hurry over to Heslop's to take advantage
of this fabulous sales event.
Was $112.00
Now
$69.95!
Cabbage Leaf Salad Serif
metal alloy.
Bowl: 14" dia. Servers: 11 1 /2" long.
Wett Bloomfield, Orchard Mall • (248) 737-8080
(Orchard Lake and 15 Mile)
METRO DETROIT:
St.Clair Shores • (810) 778-6142
21429 Mack Ave. • (North of Eight Mile Rd.)
Dearborn Heights, The Heights • (313) 274-8200
(Ford Rd. between Inkster and Beech Daly)
Livonia, Merri-Five Plaza • (734) 522-1850
(On corner of Five Mile and Merriman)
Novi, Novi Town Center • (248) 349-8090
Rochester, Meadowbrook Village Mall
(248) 375-0823
-if(
Woodtawn
PLAYCENTERS
Sterling Heights, Eastlake Commons
(810) 247-8111 • (On corner of Hall Road
and Hayes Road)
Troy, Oakland Mall • (248) 589-1433
OUTSTATE:
Ann Arbor, Colonnade • (734) 761-1002
(On Eisenhower Pkwy., west of Briarwood Mall)
Grand Rapids, Breton Village Mall • (616) 957-2145
(Breton Rd. and Burton Rd.)
Okemos, Meridian Mall • (517) 349-4008
II Beautiful Backyard
Play Centers
18 models in stock... Redwood & Pine
MICHIGAN'S LARGEST PLAYGROUND RETAILER
Delivery & Set-up available • We accept Visa, Mastercard & Discover
AUBURN HILLS
2391 Pontiac Road
(248)-373-0734
"Our 52nd Year"
Hours:. Mon. -Fri. 8-5:30, Sat. 8-4
(248)583-1300
fax: (248)583-1305
31051 stephenson hwy
madison heights, mi 48071
8/28
1998
78 Detroit Jewish News
under new ownership
Alone
I wish I could say this family is
he other day I went to the store,
alone, but in truth I see more and
and when I walked in I knew
:•
more adults who seem to have
right away that something was
absolutely no interest in parenting
wrong.
their children. It's almost a daily
A little Jewish boy was there, and
occurrence that a 2-year-old runs into
he started following me, forming the
the street, barely missing my car, or a
caboose on a family train that includ-
5-year-old (invariably helmetless)
ed my two daughters and son. He
zooms
past on his bike. In the malls I
watched me at the ATM machine,
watch as parents, engrossed in some
then stayed nearby as I got each of
store window, let their chil-
my children a slurpee. At last I
dren run far out of sight. I've
paid, and there he was, still
had parents call my house
behind me at the counter
asking, "Is Susie there?"
I had noticed several fami-
(Susie is 4 years old).
lies wandering about the store
Now, I am not suggesting
and I thought he must be with
that
parents monitor their
one of them. But as I was
older children's every move
leaving I saw that he was
(though
this
is necessary for younger
now the sole customer. He stood at
ones, especially toddlers). But when I
the door as I walked to my car.
was
small the world was a much
"No," I said, as I started to place
safer place and still there was never a
I my baby in her car seat. "I can't just
time my parents didn't know or care
I leave him there." So I went back.
where I was — right up to the day I
"You're here by yourself? Do your
left for college.
parents know where you are?"
All right, so they drove me crazy
"No," he said. "But I take care of
sometimes. If I said I would be home
myself all the time."
at 10 p.m. and didn't call and came
Seven years old. I looked at
6
in late I got grounded. But at the
1 /2-year-old beside me. I would never,
same time I knew my parents were
ever let her wander alone in a store
like this because they loved me.
— much less have no idea where she
I'm sure the parents of that 7-year-
was. I asked the boy where he lived,
old also love him, but in today% harsh
and I quickly recognized the address;
world, loving a child isn't enough.
it was a half a mile from the store.
Raising a child is a full-time responsi-
I told the boy he needed to go
bility, part of which is seeing to their
home. Shaking the few pennies in his
safety. And I don't care how great the
I hand he told me, "What I need is
neighborhood is or how little traffic
money." So I bought him a slurpee,
comes through or how everyone else
I brought him to my car, buckled him in
watches out for everyone else. Cou-
and took him home.
ples who say they want little darlings
I don't know this boy's parents
to love, but can't be bothered to
perhaps they are decent enough peo-
know whether their tiny children are
ple — but I am aghast at their
playing in the street or wandering
approach to child care. How dare
alone in a store, would be better off
they — how dare they — allow a 7-
year-old to roam about the neighbor- • with a tank of fish. ❑
hood, completely unsupervised, obvi-
ously poorly versed in the "Don't talk
to strangers" liturgy. Not only did he
I Elizabeth Applebaum
speak with me, he happily got into
AppleTree Editor
my car.