To think of course you don’t tell children medicines are sweeties?

[EeyoresEars]

GPs are visiting. They both take regular prescription medication. When taking medicine in front of our DC, their Nana described them as “Nana’s special sweeties.”

I was shocked but didn’t say anything at time as didn’t want to cause an issue in front of DC. Later on I spoke to her, assuming it wouldn’t be a problem, and asked her not to use language like that because I don’t want DC to think medicines are sweets and either seek medicines out or take medicine they might accidentally get hold of.

She first of all laughed and said I can’t be serious. Then said she uses that language so DC aren’t worried she’s ill. Then said she raised three DC who are all healthy adults so she knows what she’s doing. Then, when I said she’s welcome to her views but please could she respect my request around our DC, she said I’m a “snowflake” and my children will grow up not knowing how to manage in the real world.

I’m honestly baffled. Surely it’s just common bloody sense not to call potentially dangerous medicines sweeties? Am I totally out of touch and precious or is she being unreasonable?

Is she one of those people who can't accept being "corrected" by anyone? She is BVVU.

Do tell her that the dc will not be alarmed at her taking medicine and she doesn't need to wrap them up in cotton wool, thanks.

I was taught from a very early age that medicines/tablets were NOT sweeties, no matter how bright or fun they look. They might make someone else better but could make me very poorly.

We looked after my DFs elderly business partner who had no family (DF like a son to him) through most of his Parkinsons. DM was worried about him dropping tablets & taught me to show her any thing I found that I thought was a "sweetie" because it was probably a tablet. She'd give me a real sweetie for being a good girl and handing it in.

All in all, it seems like a petty thing to have a disagreement over. Both are U

YANBU

Although I have in the past told my children that sweets were my special medicine if I didn’t want to share 😳

She's wrong.

She's even more wrong to call you a snowflake and insult your parenting! I'd be spending less time with them.

Once my mum, many years ago when my children were little, called her wine "grandma's juice" and I immediately put a stop to that. Wine is alcohol, and alcoholic beverages are for adults, not children. I've never subscribed to the idea of lying to children. It's silly and potentially harmful.

I have Type 1 diabetes and wear an insulin pump. My four year old DN saw me changing it and came up to ask me what it was.

Me: ‘we have something in our bodies called insulin that helps us eat our food but unfortunately my body can’t make it by itself so the doctors have made this cool gadget to make the insulin for me!’

DN: ‘oh’

DM: ‘Do you think the doctors are clever for making that for your auntie?’

DN: nods and happily goes and plays with her doll

Kids are smart and easily able to deal with age appropriate answers.

So she thinks that lying to children and telling them that medication is sweeties is preparing them for the real world, but you telling them the truth makes them special snowflakes? Sounds like Nanna has had a few too many special sweeties...

Be really clear on this with your kids OP. You cannot supervise all the time and there absolutely will be times when they find pills that someone has dropped. I remember finding some in the playground when I was about 6. I really wanted to take them because they were sugar coated but I knew it was medicine so I didn't. I don't recall what medicine it was but kids definitely need to know this from as early an age as possible.

Yanbu.

My Great Grandma used to call them special sweeties as well, I never thought to try any but she did specify they weren’t for children.

Same as the dire warnings I remember from my childhood about not drinking liquids stores in glass lemonade bottles in the shed.

I take regular daily prescription for my thyroid. I'm not ill. My kids don't have to be told they are "mummy's special sweeties".

I once ate a mothball as a child because I thought it was a sweet.
Her logic on this issue is extremely flawed. YANBU at all.