Scolding Bug Killing Child

[Suzy8920]

So I was at the park with my youngest and we were walking along the path when we came across a snail. My daughter, who'll be 4 in a few weeks, saw it and deliberately stomped on the snail.

I found myself scolding the child for squashing it but then I started thinking that I deliberately squash bugs myself quite often - usually spiders and moths in my home though, not outside.

I think I reprimanded her more so for how she brutally stomped on it outside but now I'm not sure if I'm being a hypocrite sending mixed signals cause I've squished a lot of spiders to death in front of her.

Was I unreasonable or would you have a similar reaction to your child deliberately squishing a bug like this?

@CandidaAlbicans2

Please stop killing things and setting such a bad example to your kids. The world need more people with empathy for other living things, not less! 😢😡

This. And if you eat animals, you should of course stop doing that too.

I don’t think it’s right to kill spiders. I catch them and put them outside. My DDs are both terrified of spiders, so we have to get rid of them. Personally, I’ve no problem with spiders and tell the girls that the spider is more afraid than they are.

Wasps are another matter. I’ve no issue with someone swatting a wasp; personally I’m too terrified to get close enough to do it myself.

Same with mosquitoes, I do kill those myself. I’ve had malaria as well, so that adds to my dislike of the blighters.

But to answer your question, you shouldn’t be stamping on spiders, and certainly not in front of your DC, as it means that you’re hardly in a position to lecture your them about stamping on snails.