Are You a Protective (over protective?) Parent?

[Lynn CC]

I believe you can never be too much of a mother or father!
Overprotective, especially the way the world is, who else is going to protect them.

 

[jenbarnwell]

I am very over protective and I have a hard time believing what some parents will do!!

 

[Minnie824]

I admit, I'm overprotective of my DDs...something I swore I'd never do cuz my mom was SO overprotective of me. But, for now its ok, they're only 4 and 2. It amazes me what some of the kids in our neighborhood, or at the mall, get away with. They leave the 5 year olds outside to play and watch the 1 yr olds. I've seen kids climbing on top of cars, under cars, running in front of cars, you name it. Not exactly what you were asking in the OP, but I dont know...my DD is almost 5 and I'm not sure I'd let her just go off w/other people driving. DH & I don't trust many people.

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

Well, I apologize, I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone and, of course I don't think that any of your children could be a substitute or spare for the others.

The reason I said that is because my mother (who has three children) and my sister (who has two) and other friends with more than one child have told me that they tended to loosen up a bit with each subsequent child. Not that they didn't love ALL their children but that they realized that the world wasn't going to end if the kid played in the dirt, or went off with their friends, or whatever. In my own personal experience (which may or may not coincide with yours or anyone else's on here), first-time mothers tend to be a bit more frantic and overprotective with their children than moms who have more than one.

Oh Goodness, I wasn't offended. I wasn't offended when the mom at DD's school said it either. I thought it was funny. I was seriously LMAO, that's why I put that smiley on there. Your statement reminded me of that. I get where you're coming from. My girls are nly 9, 4, and 2 right now so maybe later I'll be a little less "hovery"(I know that's not a word). No apology neccessary, it's all in fun.

 

[MareQ]

Why do people say that? I will admit that I am considered over protective of my girls. I had a conversation with a mom from DD9's class and she said the same thing you said. Since she has one she's over protective. Like because I have three I should consider the other two a spare for the first and not be that worried about what happens to her . I told her that I don't only have one, I have three. But I only have one of each of them. For the record I consider myself to be just the right amount of protective and not over protective.

See now I don't think the # of children has anything to do with it - I think it's just a matter of what each mom is comfortable with.

And since we're on the subject - I almost hat to post this but I have a friend who:

Will not let her children sleep with pillows, blankets or pillow cases for fear that they will suffocate in their sleep.

Locks her children in their room at night so they don't wander around the house and hurt themselves.

Makes them wear helmets, knee and elbow pads and wrist guards - when they play in the yard so they don't hurt themselves on any rocks in the grass or on the patio in case they fall...

THAT'S OVERPROTECTIVE! Everythig else is just comfort levels IMO

 

[Tigger&Belle]

MQuara, Wow, that's an overprotective friend! Yay, Jake is home!

 

[Luv'sTink]

One day a girl from my son's school (3rd grade) came over with her little sister (1st grade) they told me that they had to check in in 30 minutes, so let them know when to go. I said OK. They went home to check in and came back and said they had to check in in 30 minutes, so let them know, this happened 4 times just that day. They came over to play the next few days in a row with the same "I have to check in" but now it was 60 minutes, so, every hour they were running home just to turn around and come back. One day I asked them where they lived (I had never met their parents) the older one said by the school. I asked her why she had to check in so often and she said "Because the teenager that lives next door looked under my skirt and his brother looked under younger sisters top" These parents think that checking in every hour is going to stop someone from doing something to these girls when they let them go to peoples houses they don't even know! I do volunteer at the school and in the 3rd graders class, but still.

I know sorta off topic but it shows you that some people are over protective and some are not at all. I am on the over protective side.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I know sorta off topic but it shows you that some people are over protective and some are not at all. I am on the over protective side.

And some people think they are being protective and actually aren't being that way at all since they hadn't even met you... Yikes!