Some Children's Parents
What is up with strangers making you parent their kids for them in public? I have had a few instances lately where I have been forced to correct, or even physically move other people's children. All while they are standing right there.
I really dislike reprimanding other peoples children, even when the parents aren't there. I feel it is their choice how to raise their kids and what rules they want to set for them. So unless they are doing something that might be harmful to themselves or someone else I usually try to just let it go. That is unless the parent has specifically told me what they find unacceptable. I have my rules for my children as well and when we are out I try to keep an eye on them to make sure that they are playing nicely and doing what they should. I do try and give them a bit of freedom though since I know I have been blesses with fairly well behaved kids. That is not to say I don't ever have problems. Trinity does tend to get a bit bossy and Alexander has been known to hit but they are for the most part on their best behavior around others.
Recently on a walk we came across a family with a little girl who decided she would climb into our wagon with my children. I was assuming the parents wouldn't want their daughter being pulled around by a stranger because I sure wouldn't. I was wrong. I pulled her to the end of the path and then decided to go a different direction. I waited a few moments for one of the parents to take their child out of my wagon, then realized they didn't intend to. I wonder if they were hoping we would just walk off with her. I was then forced to lift her out of the wagon myself and give her to her mother. At this point the little girl started to freak out and try to climb back in with my kids. They did very little to stop this and eventually I just had to walk away fast enough that she could not keep up. After more of a stroll we made a stop at the park. I so happened this family was there as well. I guess out loop around the block wasn't long enough. While my kids were playing the little girl began to pick up gravel and throw it at Alex. He had clumps of it in his hair and she just kept at it. Randall then told her to stop several times while the little girl's father stood there watching. He said later the he thought it might have been more instructive if he had picked up a handful of gravel and thrown it at the dad. I wonder how that would have turned out.
This last weekend at another playground there was a little girl who decided to play with Trinity. She had trouble with the climbing wall and asked for help from Randall who was involved with Trinity. It was very possible that she would have fallen and she was decently high at the time. Her mother just sat about 10 feet away, not saying a thing. Later this same girl got stuck in a piece of play ground equipment and I was forced to lift her out. Once again the mother was close enough to help and instead sat in silence.
I get really uncomfortable when it comes to physically moving other peoples kids. I know I can't be in all places at once and if they might be falling or stuck I suppose I would rather someone help than let them get hurt but I do try to be involved with them so that I am the one there to help. I'm not sure if I am overprotective but at this day in age I don't want to be accused of doing something inappropriate while a parent sits there on the sidelines and inspects my interaction silently.
Though each situation is different and the relationship with the parent is unique it would be nice to not be forced into situations that I am uncomfortable with. I also get rather stand offish when it comes to approaching the parent when their child is misbehaving. I'm not sure what the solution is to this but I do think there might need to be some sort of a playground edict for parents and children to follow. I definitely don't want to be accused of being inappropriate with someones child and who knows what people will do these days.
Please, let me know if this seems a little paranoid or if any of you have found yourselves in uncomfortable situations as well.
I really dislike reprimanding other peoples children, even when the parents aren't there. I feel it is their choice how to raise their kids and what rules they want to set for them. So unless they are doing something that might be harmful to themselves or someone else I usually try to just let it go. That is unless the parent has specifically told me what they find unacceptable. I have my rules for my children as well and when we are out I try to keep an eye on them to make sure that they are playing nicely and doing what they should. I do try and give them a bit of freedom though since I know I have been blesses with fairly well behaved kids. That is not to say I don't ever have problems. Trinity does tend to get a bit bossy and Alexander has been known to hit but they are for the most part on their best behavior around others.
Recently on a walk we came across a family with a little girl who decided she would climb into our wagon with my children. I was assuming the parents wouldn't want their daughter being pulled around by a stranger because I sure wouldn't. I was wrong. I pulled her to the end of the path and then decided to go a different direction. I waited a few moments for one of the parents to take their child out of my wagon, then realized they didn't intend to. I wonder if they were hoping we would just walk off with her. I was then forced to lift her out of the wagon myself and give her to her mother. At this point the little girl started to freak out and try to climb back in with my kids. They did very little to stop this and eventually I just had to walk away fast enough that she could not keep up. After more of a stroll we made a stop at the park. I so happened this family was there as well. I guess out loop around the block wasn't long enough. While my kids were playing the little girl began to pick up gravel and throw it at Alex. He had clumps of it in his hair and she just kept at it. Randall then told her to stop several times while the little girl's father stood there watching. He said later the he thought it might have been more instructive if he had picked up a handful of gravel and thrown it at the dad. I wonder how that would have turned out.
This last weekend at another playground there was a little girl who decided to play with Trinity. She had trouble with the climbing wall and asked for help from Randall who was involved with Trinity. It was very possible that she would have fallen and she was decently high at the time. Her mother just sat about 10 feet away, not saying a thing. Later this same girl got stuck in a piece of play ground equipment and I was forced to lift her out. Once again the mother was close enough to help and instead sat in silence.
I get really uncomfortable when it comes to physically moving other peoples kids. I know I can't be in all places at once and if they might be falling or stuck I suppose I would rather someone help than let them get hurt but I do try to be involved with them so that I am the one there to help. I'm not sure if I am overprotective but at this day in age I don't want to be accused of doing something inappropriate while a parent sits there on the sidelines and inspects my interaction silently.
Though each situation is different and the relationship with the parent is unique it would be nice to not be forced into situations that I am uncomfortable with. I also get rather stand offish when it comes to approaching the parent when their child is misbehaving. I'm not sure what the solution is to this but I do think there might need to be some sort of a playground edict for parents and children to follow. I definitely don't want to be accused of being inappropriate with someones child and who knows what people will do these days.
Please, let me know if this seems a little paranoid or if any of you have found yourselves in uncomfortable situations as well.
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