Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

to wonder if I have missed a new parenting rule........don't watch your small child

136 replies

Sevenfold · 27/09/2011 10:58

??
yesterday in the supermarket. small toddlers walking around, banging into trolleys and nearly getting hurt.... parent not looking.

driving, children crossing road with parent, parent marching across, whilst child dawdles way behind, parent not looking or holding very small child's hand(yes the green man was showing, but as we all know people do jump lights, especially push bikes)

been noticing this a lot of late, is it a new parenting thing?

OP posts:

Bootcamp · 27/09/2011 11:41

Bloody

StellaNova · 27/09/2011 11:42

"'Always allow your toddler to tear down the pavement on a micro scooter 20 yards ahead of you'....then scream when it looks like they're not going to stop at the edge of the road"

and

"you see a child hurtle towards the road no idea if they're going to stop"

I do have a four year old who scoots along in front, I know he is going to stop at the road but I do shout "remember to stop at the road" sometimes for the benefit of those who have "no idea that he is going to stop". That sounds stupid now, actually. I will probably stop doing that.

nethunsreject · 27/09/2011 11:42

I find it a bit tricky with one of my friends who allows her young kids free reign to maraude around to wander places I would never let my dses. They make frequent trips to A&E. I spend the entire afternoon with her with my heart n my mouth!

Bootcamp · 27/09/2011 11:45

I think it depends on your situation as well. My other dd's are 9 and 6, so I can give my undivided to my little one and they help as well. It would be different if I had two toddlers or a baby and toddler. I can give her my full attention. Grrrrr little monkey.

worraliberty · 27/09/2011 11:45

What I don't understand about the parents of scooting toddlers on pavements is...how can you put your child's life in the hands of so many strangers backing out of their driveways?

I assume a toddler is not going to be on the lookout for reversing lights...and to a driver they're so small and can appear behind the car so very quickly when they're reversing out of their drives?

I just couldn't do it. I'd sooner take them to the park every day.

Bootcamp · 27/09/2011 11:47

Do agree with the toddler on scooter thing actually. I still worry about my older two not paying attention to cars entering or exiting driveways.

IrmaLittleteapot · 27/09/2011 11:48

Oh dear I might be one of those mothers I do try to hang on to DS but sometimes when he's having none of it I let him go on ahead a bit because he does stop when I shout "STOP". I've never noticed any disapproving looks but when I used to have him on a reign not only were there disparaging looks but actual comments too.

I don't let him loose in the supermarket though. If he's running it's because the little bugger's escaped.

ChaoticAngeloftheUnderworld · 27/09/2011 11:50

I used to have a wrist strap for my DS, if I had DD in the pram. It made things easier for me as it left my hands free, to hold a bag/push the pram, but kept him safe. Like Worra I never gave up the battle of wills if there was one. It's difficult at the time but worth it in the long run.

notcitrus · 27/09/2011 11:51

Hardly anyone reversing when I'm doing the nursery run (I see a car reversing in/out about once a week), and there's at least 20 scooters, so cars are watching (and more importantly I'm watching ds so I could stop him if need be).

Most kids seem to be being pretty well watched over in my area - though as I have a 3yo who is unpredictable to people who don't know him, there's probably other people thinking he's being neglected...

worraliberty · 27/09/2011 11:53

I think I'm just getting old and grumpy

I'm by no means as strict as I probably make myself sound...but I do get a bit frustrated at the recent trend of parents tippy toeing around their toddlers like they're afraid to upset them.

I agree we should pick our battles, but holding your child's hand is a basic imo.

Then again, my Mum probably thought the same when my generation became parents.

Bootcamp · 27/09/2011 11:53

Just don't understand the whole battle of wills thing. Yes there are times ie busy roads when you need to stand firm but they are little for such a short time, I think give the freedom when you can! At school it's a whole new ball game.

IrmaLittleteapot · 27/09/2011 11:54

Where I live we're all so squashed in there's no chance of anyone having a drive nevermind backing out of one.

bonkers20 · 27/09/2011 11:54

How old is she boot?

Bootcamp · 27/09/2011 11:54

I'm not afraid t upset dd, I just don't want to.

worraliberty · 27/09/2011 12:00

The battle of wills thing is (in my opinion) something you must do early on.

If I had a pound for every parent of a teenager who wonders where they went wrong, I'd be very rich. It can save on a lot of heartache if your child learns early on in life to listen to their parents and to do as their told.

Ok, they'll still play up and be nightmares at times, but allowing a toddler to think they're in charge is never a good idea to me.

Bootcamp · 27/09/2011 12:12

Bootcamp · 27/09/2011 12:13

Different folks for different strokes. My 2 eldest are well behaved mostly and they do know when I mean it.

worraliberty · 27/09/2011 12:14

True, we all parent differently.

deaconblue · 27/09/2011 12:14

is def a new parenting thing. I am literally the only mother who holds her 5 yr old's hand when walking to and from school. The rest all trail behind while the mums chat. People have commented that I'm overprotective but I think it's a)nice to hold ds' hand while he'll still let me and b) I'm not going to risk my precious boy's safety near the road.

Bootcamp · 27/09/2011 12:15

Must admit she is a little rogue.

nethunsreject · 27/09/2011 12:15

Of course, in t'olden days, kids were perfectly well behaved.

We used to run feral when I think of it.

ChaoticAngeloftheUnderworld · 27/09/2011 12:16

Worra I think you and I come from the same parenting camp :)

Original poster

Sevenfold · 27/09/2011 12:18

nethunsreject your not wrong, mine was perfect(falls on the floor lol at the idea) but when it came too crossing roads, he held my hand , end off story.

now supermarkets were a whole other story.....

OP posts:

worraliberty · 27/09/2011 12:18

nethuns of course that's not the case and I suspect you know it...however there was a higher standard of discipline in my opinion.

Chaotic Yes, I think we do.

It's called the 'Cat's bum camp'

ChaoticAngeloftheUnderworld · 27/09/2011 12:21

Aye, you're right there

Having just posted what I did, I've just found myself negotiating with the cat to get her to come in

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Swipe left for the next trending thread