MIL wants to sell my baby

[TheExtraPickle]

Apologies for clickbaity title. But now I have your attention...

I'm a paramedic. Several times in the last couple of months I have heard a parent say to their child some variation of "Behave or that ambulance lady will be cross/tell you off/take you away".

Don't. Do. That.

Don't make your child afraid of us.

Don't make them so afraid that when I try to examine their broken arm they scream and squirm and do more damage.

Don't make them afraid to call 999 and ask for help.

Don't make them afraid to approach us if they are lost in public.

Don't make them too afraid to open the front door when you've fallen down the stairs and are unconscious.

I've also heard "the police will come and arrest you if you don't stop". Also not a good message.

Teach your children that the emergency services are here to help and are friendly and trustworthy. You never know when you might need us. Don't use me to discipline or calm your child because the first thing I will do is turn around with a big smile and tell that child it isn't the case.

This has been a public service announcement from TheExtraPickle. (Who's MIL is lovely and in no way involved in child trading)

[pobblewashere]

Slightly different slant on this, how about those wonderful parents who tell their children 'wait till your Dad gets home' as a threat, if they've been naughty. Why would you make a child frightened of their father? This was a common threat when I was young.I'd like to think that parents are more enlightened now.

[UkuleleRose]

First-time poster here.

Years ago I worked at a bookstore. One night, a little girl was looking at a stack of books, so I squatted down and said, "Hi, can I help you find something?" She gave me a look of absolute terror and asked if I was going to yell at her if she touched a book. "No, what stupid idiot told you that?" "My mom."

Whoops. I'm still surprised I wasn't fired.

[GwendolynMary]

I am cautious about the police = superhero message, simply because in my neck of the woods, half-brown kids like mine aren't going to be treated the same as white kids when it comes to police interactions. We do tell the kids to speak to police, ambos, firies as they help in emergencies. We just play the cop is hero aspect down a bit because our kids aren't stupid and they do notice the different way different people are treated, unfortunately.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

Gwen I actually thought the same thing

Easy for a white woman (yes that's a blanket assumption on the site demographic ) but young black and brown skinned men need to be cautious sadly

[ReanimatedSGB]

Gwen, I thought that too.

[Bluelonerose]

I remember going to a police station open day when mine were little. My ds1 (who was about 5 at the time) got very excited at the 1 cell having 2 beds & asked if him and his sister could spend the night!

I don't think I've ever seen so many massive coppers crying with laughter before

[Tiredtomybones]

Thank you to all the paramedics, nurses, doctors etc reading this. My son is a very poorly little boy and we have lots of interaction with medical professionals. I remember the first time I had to call 999 to my unconscious, limp baby, I actually cried with relief when the ambulance pulled up at the top of my drive. DS loves looking out for all emergency vehicles and we had a nice experience a few weeks ago - a police car zooming past with its blues and sirens, we stopped to watch and the policeman in the passenger seat waved to DS. I was impressed how cool he was even though he was clearly on an emergency run and he made the day for DS. Thank you one and all.

[babybat]

I can't believe people actually do this, how short-sighted can you be? Also, any tips on books about the emergency services for toddlers? Is there a 'That's Not My Paramedic' book?

[OvariesBeforeBrovaries]

Love this. It may have been said but can I add - please teach your children their address, and if you can't, teach them to call from a landline! It makes it so much easier for us to find them.

Also tell them to stay on the line until the paramedics arrive; as EMDs we'll stay on with child callers until help arrives.

Even if they're calling without need, don't tell them that we'll tell them off if they call again. Bum-dialling and little kids mashing buttons and coming through to 999 happens - I'd never shout at someone for making a mistake or for having a curious child! Use it as an opportunity to talk about when you call 999, not as a chance to tell them never to dial that number!

[Cath2907]

My sis is a cop. Positive messaging in my house about teachers, police, nurses, Drs, paramedics etc.. We also teach respect for people generally including thanking those in shops and waiting staff. In fact my daughter wants to work in Asda when she grows up as they must get paid a lot doing such a hard job giving people change all day!

[Drknittingfrog]

Can't believe anyone would be stupid enough to describe anyone in a public service like occupation to their children in such a vile way. I have always made a point of telling my children that if they are lost they should seek either a mum with children or a policeman/woman. Why would anyone want to make their children scared of Dr/ambulance/dentist/etc?

[Sandsunsea]

ovaries
I taught my kids all about dialling 999 recently and my youngest (5 at the time and also has a learning disability) waited until I was out of sight a couple of days later The called 999 to say hi, unfortunately the person on the other end did shout at her and now my daughter won't use the landline. I wish she had got you on the other end of the phone!

[OvariesBeforeBrovaries]

The called 999 to say hi, unfortunately the person on the other end did shout at her and now my daughter won't use the landline

That's such a shame Sand I'm sorry you had that experience :( that's why I think it's so counterproductive to shout! We want them to know they can call us when they're in danger or scared. Try and tell your youngest that the person probably shouted because she was scared that someone was in danger, but that if there is an emergency she should never be scared to call us because we just want to help :)

[lemony7]

Waaaah I tell DD the library lady might tell her off because DD is SHOUTY SHOUT SHOUT loud all the damn time.

[elfinpre]

I wouldn't say "nasty nurse" but "a policeman will tell you/me off" worked pretty well if the kids were playing up in the car, as it did when my mum said it to me. It isn't poor parenting.

[MammaLex]

Spot on, totally agree. My BIL is a copper and says the same thing. The one person you'd want a lost or worried child to turn to is a policeman, a nervous child to trust is a nurse and so on. I think you all do fabulous jobs and people should bloody well parent their own children without having to make foolish threats. So there!

[shallichangemyname]

Going to hospital and having a minor op under general has since been described countless times by DD2 (then 8) as "the best day of my life". She insisted on watching the canula and needles being inserted into her hand/arm and resisted all attempts by the medical staff to avoid using the "n" word (needle). They thought she was hysterical. I've always taught them to share a joke with and say hello to policemen and others in uniform.
I have to confess though we did a lot of long haul flying when they were very young (4DCs)and I did once tell them the captain would eject them if they didn't behave.

[becotide]

I used to work in a shop and have been the aim of many "That lady will tell you off!" comments. I always used to say say "I won't, I'll give you coffee if your mother leaves you here."

[ChilliBanana]

I work in a hospital and someone told her child "If you don't behave that nurse (I'm not a nurse and that fucked me off as well lol) will give you a needle." Ffs. I just have her my biggest smile and said "No I won't!" Way to make your kid scared of nurse's though

[exaltedwombat]

For a time in my childhood, I had a minor tic. My mother's responded was to threaten me with Dr. Fox, the well-known head of a local psychiatric institute which, in those days, we were not afraid to call the looney-bin. I don't think I was particularly traumatized. But I remember thinking what a strange thing it was for her to have said, and losing some respect for her over it. Sorry, mum, and RIP. But you DID do it.

[fatandlumpy]

Just to add, my OH got a nasty surprise when our 4yr old called the police on him for being naughty and telling him off.

... told OH it was his bloody fault for threatening toddler to tell a policeman on him every time he was naughty.

Good message and justifies the 'clickbait' title.

[Someonessnackbitch]

🙏🏻

[EllenMP]

Great post! Well done for getting this message out there, and I'm sorry people have treated you like the enemy when you are literally there to help their little ones.