Hearing Smearing
My husband and I were kid free on the weekend and decided to take in the free concert in downtown Kitchener Sunday night. The Trews were slated to play and we know and like some of their songs so we climbed into the car and headed over. There were 4 bands that played that day and we arrived just as the first was starting out. Since we were decently early we ended up not very far from the stage. There were some interesting people we saw and I very nearly got stepped on by a enthusiastic dancing man that was later escorted out by security after he whipped his shirt off and began bumping into everyone around him. I believe he was quite high and I'm thankful that he didn't attempt to eat my face.
It was rather loud up close where we were standing and I began to regret our lack of earplugs. Even after a full day I could still hear my ears ringing if it was really quiet. This is what brings me to the irresponsibility of the parents that we witnessed. We were surrounded by babies and small children in strollers! It is one thing for us to willingly choose to ruin our own hearing by standing so close but these kids didn't have a choice. There was no reason that their parents needed to have them 20 feet from the stage. In fact one little boy started to cry and was upset about the noise and his mother, rather than removing him, told him to cover his ears. He was right up front for all 4 bands and when he would get upset his mother would just strap him into the stroller and ignore him.
Now I'm not saying I'm a perfect mom. I'm sure there have been times when I have been out and frustrated with one or both of my children for things they have been doing all day but someone will see me lecturing them for something that might seem small. They haven't seen the culmination of all the craziness that has gone one already that day and lead to the moment of what seems like overreaction. In this case however I don't think that could be considered. These children had legitimate concerns. The music was too loud for their sensitive hearing. End of story.
At the time that I got pregnant with my first I was actually in a band. I was the singer, my husband the bass player and two friends were the drummer and guitarist. We met weekly in their basement to have our sessions. Then I found out that really loud sound, even in utero could damage the hearing of the baby. That was when I quit. I didn't want to do damage to this baby for something that I could easily avoid.
These kids that I saw will have had some hearing damage done from that experience. I know this, but is it possible that other people don't realize? Could these parents thought it would just be a fun experience and there would be no lasting effect? Did they not think about their kids at all?
We also witnessed a lot of another pet peeve of mine. Parents smoking around their children. Do they really think that standing 3 feet away and being outside will be enough to dissipate the smoke? Do they not care that they are exposing their children to dangerous second hand smoke? I see it all the time though. At the playgrounds, just walking down the street and at the restaurant I used to work at. One evening I was furious! A man actually took his small baby (not yet walking) outside with him when he went to have a smoke. This was going out of his way to expose the child to smoke! I can understand there is an addiction. I can understand thinking the second hand smoke is less invasive and potent than it is. I can even understand denial that they are as harmful as they are. What I can't understand is purposely exposing your kids to something that you know is not good for them. Especially when they have no choice in the matter.
It was rather loud up close where we were standing and I began to regret our lack of earplugs. Even after a full day I could still hear my ears ringing if it was really quiet. This is what brings me to the irresponsibility of the parents that we witnessed. We were surrounded by babies and small children in strollers! It is one thing for us to willingly choose to ruin our own hearing by standing so close but these kids didn't have a choice. There was no reason that their parents needed to have them 20 feet from the stage. In fact one little boy started to cry and was upset about the noise and his mother, rather than removing him, told him to cover his ears. He was right up front for all 4 bands and when he would get upset his mother would just strap him into the stroller and ignore him.
Now I'm not saying I'm a perfect mom. I'm sure there have been times when I have been out and frustrated with one or both of my children for things they have been doing all day but someone will see me lecturing them for something that might seem small. They haven't seen the culmination of all the craziness that has gone one already that day and lead to the moment of what seems like overreaction. In this case however I don't think that could be considered. These children had legitimate concerns. The music was too loud for their sensitive hearing. End of story.
At the time that I got pregnant with my first I was actually in a band. I was the singer, my husband the bass player and two friends were the drummer and guitarist. We met weekly in their basement to have our sessions. Then I found out that really loud sound, even in utero could damage the hearing of the baby. That was when I quit. I didn't want to do damage to this baby for something that I could easily avoid.
These kids that I saw will have had some hearing damage done from that experience. I know this, but is it possible that other people don't realize? Could these parents thought it would just be a fun experience and there would be no lasting effect? Did they not think about their kids at all?
We also witnessed a lot of another pet peeve of mine. Parents smoking around their children. Do they really think that standing 3 feet away and being outside will be enough to dissipate the smoke? Do they not care that they are exposing their children to dangerous second hand smoke? I see it all the time though. At the playgrounds, just walking down the street and at the restaurant I used to work at. One evening I was furious! A man actually took his small baby (not yet walking) outside with him when he went to have a smoke. This was going out of his way to expose the child to smoke! I can understand there is an addiction. I can understand thinking the second hand smoke is less invasive and potent than it is. I can even understand denial that they are as harmful as they are. What I can't understand is purposely exposing your kids to something that you know is not good for them. Especially when they have no choice in the matter.
I know what you mean about the smoking - my son comes home from time with his dad smelling like smoke. There's nothing I can do about it though, it would result in a huge fight and no change in behaviour.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree you shouldn't smoke around kids. It's harmful and disgusting. Some parents need a good spanking.
ReplyDelete