I kid you not, the same day this thread was started I was going to start a thread (which I rarely do.) I was at the grocery store with a friend. I like her, and she's well educated. In fact, she's a social worker. . .so she knows a lot about children and appropriate development. Anywhoo. . .her DD11 was pushing the cart and ran into my friends heels. My friend said ouch and told her to watch were she was going. Reasonable, I think, But her daughter hid her face. I looked at my friend and the mom in me said, "She's tired." She agreed, but stopped, hugged her daughter and started back tracking. . ."Oh, I'm sorry baby. Mommy isn't mad." And was hugging her DD. I thought. . Wow. . .ok. I just tried to help the situation and said, "It was just an accident. Nobody is mad. Just be more careful." The DD seemed to get over it and we walked on. But not 30 seconds later she asked if she could ride in the cart. My friend told her sure. Huh?
:Now mind you, DD11 is in full on puberty. She could easily pass for 13. I didn't say anything but that kid took up the whole damn cart! I just kept wondering if I was the weird one, because my kids 15, 10 and 8, would NEVER be caught dead riding in a cart as I pushed them around! They would be
mortified if one of their classmates saw them.
I know this same girl (11 yrs old) is wearing pull-ups at night. I didn't make any judgments when I found that out, because there can be valid physical reasons for that. But now I have my doubts. The girl is not special needs. In fact, she is an honor student. Idk. . .call me crazy, but I think we have a responsibility to our children to teach them age appropriate behavior. This girl is an only child, and mine are not. I know my nephew, who is an only child, gets babied more than mine do, but still. . .doesn't everybody want their kids to fit in and grow up to be independent?
To the PP that claims his/her 8 year old is small for their age and will get to be pushed in a stroller at WDW so they don't have to listen to them complain. Don't you think strollers are inappropriate for 8yr olds, no matter what their size? If that is how you feel, why don't you just put a pacifier in her mouth to shut her up? It's really the same thing. You are not doing your child any favors. Most of us know what a PITA potty training is, but making things easy for us isn't always what is best for our child. If that was the case, we would all avoid potty training and let our kids wear diapers until they went off to college if that's what they chose. I know for a fact my DS10 would still be breastfeeding if I let him. But no, because we
are the parents and we
do know what is best, and appropriate for our children, so we teach them.
Sometimes I wonder about my parenting, because my kids can be mouthy. But then I remember that I have raised them that way. I have always emphasized independent thinking with them. I value that and it shows in my kids. I know some parents expect obedience, but I never wanted that for my children. I have always wanted them to be thoughtful and form their own opinions. . .and sometimes as a parent that works against you. My DD15 had a rough year when she was in 6th grade. She went to Catholic school and her teacher was an out lesbian. My DD kept her on her toes because she was the brightest kid in her class. . .I don't think the teacher liked that. . .but tough. Anywhoo, my daughter had a My Chemical Romance CD in her back pack. She got called out into the hall by that teacher and read the riot act because one of the songs has the "F" word in it. I had previewed the CD and thought it was appropriate for her. But that teacher was telling her how inappropriate it was and it was un-Christian. Now my DD only told her that the use of the "F" word was appropriate in that song and was not gratuitous at all. But when she came home, she told me that when that teacher brought up the Bible, she wanted to tell her, "Hey, where does it say your lifestyle is ok? In fact, I can't find one passage in the Bible that talks about the "F" word, but I'll show you exactly where it talks about homosexuality." Please don't get mad at me. . .I do not teach hate (same DD went to a pride rally last week.) It was just the hypocrisy that my daughter felt was wrong. I couldn't argue with her. . .and I respect that in my kids.
So. .again. . .if you baby your kids to the point of infancy. .. how the heck are they suppose to ever be functioning adults with their own thoughts and views on the world and what is happening around them?
I have such fond memories of those times... even though we didn't always "accomplish" tons of rides, we enjoyed every second. Gosh, even when we were at WDW for his first visit at age 3 we found he needed midday breaks or early evenings back at the hotel, even with stroller riding. Parents, it's not always all about you!
