at the beach today listening to SO MUCH over-parenting

[GretchenWiener]

So there I am, lying with eyes shut with several families around. really nice day and lots of happy playing by lovely kids.

but OMG - parents give your kids a sodding break. Endless instructions issued, everything micromanaged to the Nth degree. Kids told the same thing three times in about two minutes when they are obviously doing something else first (all surf board related).
I really felt for them.

When I read how to talk ( the book) it said that we all do it. Today it seemed super true. Do you over instruct or question?

I always feel neglectful at my local park for letting ds do things, the done thing seems to be lifting dc onto every activity and carrying from thing one to another then congratulating them ferociously for well nothing really as its the adult doing the work.

I wish I had the opportunity to do this. DS starts loudly chatting at seven am and doesn't let up until he falls asleep at night. I don't get a word in.

whoknowswhere- that sounds just like my DH! Hope it wasn't He is always erm, informing the children at length about any number of subjects. Someone actually turned round to him on a bus last week, and asked him how on earth he knew so much?

Oh, the eternal shame. Our children don't hate us... yet.

He doesn't over-parent at all though, so it's probably okay.

liberallibertines - i was gobsmacked at dd's sports day. A dad knelt down to give his dd a pep talk ahead of her race - "annahilate those bicthes." They were 7 year olds in an egg and spoon race.

Same father won the parents race. At the end of term school celebration assemly - he stood up and reminded the head teacher of his win and that she hadnt give him a credit for it. [embarassed]

No! his dd will be cringing when she's older

There's a dad at cubs like that. Goes on and on about everything. Kids just sit there. Nothing to find out- he's told them everything. He's very nice tho!

Nerf - I don't think this family use buses and I am 99% certain the DM isn't a MNer.

FGS YES!

We had Milly yesterday....

Bit Milly's parents wanted her to do what all the other DC were doing (Milly was happy playing with some pebbles)

Milly look at those DC
Milly you have a go
Milly come and jump in
Milly Milly Milly Milly Milly

Milly wants you to shut the fuck up

Lol at "helicoptered the snot out of it"

I can't bloody WAIT for today.

Anyone with kids who over parents? Stay clear of the south coast beaches today.

I might get a sticker "sftu you're annoying everyone "

And don't get me started on the constant bloody photos of Milly playing

No Milly don't look at me just carry on playing, NO not like that like this, pick the shell up NO don't show me YOU look at it move back a bit, no now I can't see you MILLY look natural FGS

DF then moaning about crap photos. I wanted Milly to stick her finger up more than anything in the world

Ha yes!! That's a sub feature. Very well spotted. Sienna and hazel had the same too.

Even the photo was micro managed to make them play in the right way. Then after the bloody photo was taken they played in a much more photogenic way

People don't like receiving instructions from other people and children are no exception. If DC don't respond to instructions, that is your cue to adopt another way of communicating.

Also. On beaches sound travels up from water. Not down from sand

Yup. We've worked that one out B. :)

I feel a lot better about my parenting now... I tend to tell mine not to fall off anything or into anything, swim where the lifeguards can see them and just get on with it. Round them up for feeding every now and then and that's it.

Oooh I am going to a south coast beach later. Its a very naice beach. It is potentially the perfect spot for over parent spotting :)

All this shouty parenting reminds me of that comedian, Dom Jolly, I think, who went about with a massive mobile phone shouting "Can you hear me, I'm on my mobile"

Agree it is mostly pointless words into the ether shouty and with no thought behind it. It is my biggest bug bear I don't drive and use buses loads and I hear it all the time. Leave them be

I think it's part of the rise of parenting as a lifestyle choice I have noticed that young mums I meet when out act like no one else ever had children. I saw a woman the other day bent down and pulling her ear saying listening listening at the top of her voice to her dd who was blatantly ignoring her

Let's face it, once your kids are all past the age if 10 all parents of small children become ridiculous. It is a combination of envy and relief

I do the photo thing too, I am clearly one annoying twat. Thank God MN is here to let me know .

oh i am killing myself laughing here
the photogenic playing......[cries laughing]

i am lax parent-i just say go and play and then read my book ignoring them