Superwoman cape is getting washed, Mama bear is here!
Oh man... the other afternoon I was at a play group with a group of ladies I have been with for about 10 months or so. Everyone comes and goes as we wish so it's not always the same group, but often. There are a lot of differing opinions about parenting and child rearing as is to be expected (and the age ranges from 3.5 - newborn). Some days there are 18 people in this tiny house - so it's packed, chaotic and busy.
I'm sitting by the toys to monitor my very active kiddos to make sure they share, don't hit, etc. but am still talking with some of the moms. All of a sudden this mom grabbed her child away from sitting next to my youngest and reprimanded my youngest (for hitting her son - which didn't cause either of them to make a peep so it couldn't have been so bad) with a tone of voice and a look that I don't give my own children when I am angry. Oh my God. I have to say that I actually had a physical reaction to her audacity and I had to keep looking down to not tell her what I wanted to say (she was now across the house). I have thought about it since and each time I get upset... tonight I wrote her an e-mail and asked her (respectfully) to please talk to my children with the respect I give to her child in the exact same situation. It was a lot more involved and e-mailing was actually the best route for me in re: to this because when I was writing I started getting flush, my breathing sped up and my heart was racing... if we'd been in a conversation I didn't want to say something I didn't mean. I've thought about it for 3 days and I had to say something.
Damned if anyone is going to speak to my children that way... I don't care who they are. If a parent is that upset over child's play, something is not right in the situation... I don't expect my children to not get: kicked, hit, stepped on, left out, etc. when we play in groups - it's about learning boundaries, how to play together and really... that's how they learn. My husband told me tonight I am probalby opening more doors than I want to with that e-mail but I have to say, I don't care. I can't let someone think it's okay to treat someone else's kids that way - if I need to ask a child to not hit, I do it nicely, with care and respect for them - - I'm not their Mom and tread lightly b/c of it.
SO, the e-mail is sent, Mama bear is still here but maybe a bit more quiet tonight.
Watch out world, I'm not afraid to protect my family.
I'm sitting by the toys to monitor my very active kiddos to make sure they share, don't hit, etc. but am still talking with some of the moms. All of a sudden this mom grabbed her child away from sitting next to my youngest and reprimanded my youngest (for hitting her son - which didn't cause either of them to make a peep so it couldn't have been so bad) with a tone of voice and a look that I don't give my own children when I am angry. Oh my God. I have to say that I actually had a physical reaction to her audacity and I had to keep looking down to not tell her what I wanted to say (she was now across the house). I have thought about it since and each time I get upset... tonight I wrote her an e-mail and asked her (respectfully) to please talk to my children with the respect I give to her child in the exact same situation. It was a lot more involved and e-mailing was actually the best route for me in re: to this because when I was writing I started getting flush, my breathing sped up and my heart was racing... if we'd been in a conversation I didn't want to say something I didn't mean. I've thought about it for 3 days and I had to say something.
Damned if anyone is going to speak to my children that way... I don't care who they are. If a parent is that upset over child's play, something is not right in the situation... I don't expect my children to not get: kicked, hit, stepped on, left out, etc. when we play in groups - it's about learning boundaries, how to play together and really... that's how they learn. My husband told me tonight I am probalby opening more doors than I want to with that e-mail but I have to say, I don't care. I can't let someone think it's okay to treat someone else's kids that way - if I need to ask a child to not hit, I do it nicely, with care and respect for them - - I'm not their Mom and tread lightly b/c of it.
SO, the e-mail is sent, Mama bear is still here but maybe a bit more quiet tonight.
Watch out world, I'm not afraid to protect my family.
posted by birthfree at
10:57 PM
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