Dropping your child off (edit)

The “tracking device in your child” post made me think of this.

My husband and I were at a HUGE mall this past weekend. I’m talking three stories, walkways forever long, people everywhere. Just enormous.

We were in a line at a store waiting to check out and there was a young girl all by herself in front of us. (Maybe 13?) we didn’t really think much of it. Just noticed because she was so small and by herself.

About an hour later, I was sitting down in a chair in the hallway of the mall feeding my son and the girl walked past me. She was with a friend and talking loud enough for me to hear her. She said, “my mom dropped me off by Cinnabon, she said she will be here in 5 minutes”

My jaw dropped. Two young girls dropped off by their parents in a huge mall with an insane amount of people. I couldn’t believe it. Imo, that’s not okay and I would never allow my children to just be dropped off like that. I wouldn’t force them to be attached to my hip but I would at least be in the mall.

What do you think? What is an appropriate age to drop your child off and where do you think it’s okay to do so?

The world is such a scary place now I just couldn’t do it.

EDIT

I guess I’m incredibly over protective lol maybe because my little guy is only 3 months 🤷🏻‍♀️