Why would someone say this to a 4 1/2 year old?? -

[FayeW]

That's fine if you have your opinion(s), but what the woman did was rude.

People let their kids wear camo or military gear because of their pride for the military or for whatever reason - not necessarily to glorify war. Kids don't have a political agenda... ... and not everything has to be PC, especially to a 4.5yo child.

I completely agree with you. Knee jerk reactions are not always rational. While the woman in question was entitled to her opinion, it was completely inappropriate for her to express it to a child.

 

[Rex Rules]

Well, I'd be willing to bet she has no respect for the people in real uniforms, either the active duty uniformed soldiers - who are out there dying to preserve her right to say such stupid things to children.
How sad for her to be so pathetic.
And your son is precious.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

She must suffer from Open Mouth Insert Foot Syndrome.

 

[newmousecateer2]

I think your son looks adorable also. I am glad he did not fully understand the "statement" the woman was making.

People let their kids wear camo or military gear because of their pride for the military or for whatever reason - not necessarily to glorify war. Kids don't have a political agenda... ... and not everything has to be PC, especially to a 4.5yo child.

Very nicely expressed....

 

[DawnCt1]

Well, I'd be willing to bet she has no respect for the people in real uniforms, either the active duty uniformed soldiers - who are out there dying to preserve her right to say such stupid things to children.
How sad for her to be so pathetic.
And your son is precious.

My thoughts exactly!!!

 

[Bob Slydell]

Sounds like something my MIL would say -- probably not to the child or the mother, but to DW and I under her breath.

And not because of any disrespect to military or anything, but rather an underlying belief that all little boys should dress like little Gap models 24/7.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I know I shouldn't reply, and probably should hit the back button.... But....
I do not allow Camo clothes in my house. All 3 of my boys are aware it's not allowed. It is not an issue it's simply not somthing we do. I do not allow them because of thier association with hunting, ( Which is another whole thread and this is my opinion only) I don't like hunting and do want to impart that value to my kids. Any camo explanation from me has always been we are NOT a hunting family.

Your situation is differant your son is equating it with military, I am quite sure if one of mine said they wanted to dress like a soldier, My opinion would vastly differ. Anyone my boys have ever seen in Camo has been coming out of the woods with a rifle. We do have air force in town,,but the boys see thier uniforms and they are Flight suits so it's a differant association, I would have no issue with one of them wanting to wear that.

As for that lady. I am afraid I would have been booted from Old country buffet. Some people are just mean. I am sure it probably had nothing to do with his outfit, she was probably just nasty in general. And let loose.

I love your pictures and he absolutely is cunning...

 

[malibuconlee]

There will always be "those people" who say bad things about and have no respect for the men and women who fight for their country. I'm sorry your little boy had to come across one .

He's very handsome!! Thank you for instilling in him respect for the armed forces at such an early age.

 

[Amberle3]

You're from Canada. We don't expect you to understand the love, appreciation and admiration that we have for our men and women in uniform.

I don't mean to hijack this thread (really I don't) but I have to respond:

Just because our army is much smaller than yours doesn't mean we don't have one. We do, and we have the same love, admiration and respect for them that you do for yours. And just because there are a few loud-mouthed morons who happen to hold various political offices and have made stupid comments doesn't mean the entire country feels this way.

Some Canadians are very fond of Americans. My DFi is an American. Many of us were completely horrified by 9/11. Since that day whenever I hear the US national anthem, I cry.

And while we may not have officially sent troops to Iraq (although there are some of our guys there) we did send troups to Afghanistan so that US troops there could be reassigned to Iraq.

As for Transparant's little boy: I think he's adorable and I would have been sorely tempted to tell the woman exactly what she could do with her comments.

 

[mrsltg]

My friends and I reserve a special name for people like this - "The Big C". Speaking as ladies we don't actually use the word, but its intention is clear...

Your son is beautiful and what a wonderful goal for him to aspire to.

Erin

 

[FayeW]

Well, I'd be willing to bet she has no respect for the people in real uniforms, either the active duty uniformed soldiers - who are out there dying to preserve her right to say such stupid things to children.
How sad for her to be so pathetic.
And your son is precious.

I really and truly don't understand how you can make such a presumptive statement. We have no idea what led her to make her inappropriate comments. Maybe she just thought the child looked silly, and that since he is quite clearly not a Marine, he shouldn't dress like one. Maybe her distaste was from the complete opposite of lack of respect for the military; perhaps she values the men and women who serve so much that she feels they are the only people worthy to wear the uniform,and that having a child dressed the same way was minimizing their contribution. We really don't know. This is an emotional issue for some, obviously, because you are equating criticism of the child's apparel to criticism of the military, and I think that is quite a leap.

 

[MamaLema]

There is no excuse in the world for saying that to a little boy

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I agree with TwinMom - I think everybody is making a huge assumption on her motives.

I've never allowed my boy's camo clothing and it has nothing to do with disrespect for the military. It is just my view that Guns and Hunting are grown-up activities and I try to temper their natural male urges to run around "shooting" everything in sight with play/pretend weapons. Heck, my 2 older kids spent 3 hours last week packing up Care Packages for troops in Iraq, but I wouldn't allow them to wear that shirt.

But yeah, I certainly wouldn't go out of my way chasing down Pre-Schoolers at the Old Country Buffet to give my fashion lecture. That is just rude.

 

[MamaLema]

You're from Canada. We don't expect you to understand the love, appreciation and admiration that we have for our men and women in uniform.

Congratulations. You've officially said the stupidest thing I have ever heard on the DIS. At least in my book

 

[snoopy]

I really and truly don't understand how you can make such a presumptive statement. We have no idea what led her to make her inappropriate comments. Maybe she just thought the child looked silly, and that since he is quite clearly not a Marine, he shouldn't dress like one. Maybe her distaste was from the complete opposite of lack of respect for the military; perhaps she values the men and women who serve so much that she feels they are the only people worthy to wear the uniform,and that having a child dressed the same way was minimizing their contribution. We really don't know. This is an emotional issue for some, obviously, because you are equating criticism of the child's apparel to criticism of the military, and I think that is quite a leap.

You are correct. I know when I first read transparent's post, that was my assumption, that she opposd the war in Iraq. I guess because at least where I live, the war has divided people. Her reaction could have been for any number of reasons, or maybe she just didn't have one and likes being mean to little kids. We'll never know. One thing we all agree on, its never appropriate to approach someone's child and tell them they look ridiculous.

 

[MamaLema]

You are correct. I know when I first read transparent's post, that was my assumption, that she opposd the war in Iraq. I guess because at least where I live, the war has divided people. Her reaction could have been for any number of reasons, or maybe she just didn't have one and likes being mean to little kids. We'll never know. One thing we all agree on, its never appropriate to approach someone's child and tell them they look ridiculous.

Very well said

 

[minmate]

I am glad your son didn't understand enough to get his feelings hurt. When he was 2 1/2 , my ds wore his spiderman costume from about Oct. 15 - Sept. of the following year... almost every day. The days I insisted he wear "clothes," he often wore the spidey costume underneath. It was annoying at first, but I decided it wasn't the battle I wanted to fight. In fact, because I allowed him to fulfill his own wishes in "dress-up" his personality shone through and many, many people have become so endeared by him. Despite what obsessions may come and go in his life (yu-gi-oh, pirates, star wars, etc.), he is always remembered as the sweet little boy who wanted to be spiderman. And that's fine with me. As for people who think it's inappropriate, well, nobody ever said anything to me, but I never really cared because kids are only kids once. Soon enough they have to grow up and face the serious world and follow all sorts of rules. They will learn what our society considers the "norm" for fashion. Why stifle creativity and imagination so young?

As for your son's desire to become a marine, there are much worse things a kid can aspire to, so while I would selfishly cringe only because I'd fear for his life I would do it inwardly and encourage him to follow his dreams. That's what mothers are supposed to do... help to give their children wings. That's what you're doing so I would be proud if I were you.

 

[transparant]

It's interesting to read everyone's thoughts on this.

We do live very close to a military base - so my son gets to see soldiers almost on a daily bases. When the soldiers from the base see my son dressed just like them...it make's their day! I even posted a story a while back about a few guys from the airforce and how taken with my son they were. My son went up to them and shook EVERYONE of their hands and thanked them completely unprompted (he even called them "sir"). One of the Airforce guys saluted my son and gave him an Airforce coin...which in turn made my sons day not to mentioned my own.

My husband and I have never pushed this on him in any way...(my older boys never played soldier a day in their life) - he just did this on his own. When I tell you that this kid is knowledgable in regards to the US Military....that is an understatement LOL! He can even tell you whether the Jet flying above you is an F-14, or F-18, etc. (I'm never sure whether he's right or not...but my father has always confirmed that he's correct LOL)

Does he play war games? Yes...sometimes he does. He always says he's "protecting our country" But for the most part he mostly sits in a tree on the side of our house in his cammies and keeps a lookout for bad guys. LOL! In fact...he always say's that he's going to capture "Salama Balama" - (Osama Bin Laden).

Sure it scares the crap out of me to think what "could" happen if he follows through with his dream. But I can also tell you that I would be one hell of a proud mama knowing the best of the best is serving and protecting this country.

As for Luke and the situation that happened yesterday - he hasn't got a clue what inappropriate and ridiculous means - so that situation didn't effect him at all. It was mostly me that felt sad for him. I don't know why that lady made those comments, she's certainly entitled to her reasons. But the venom in her voice was a bit much - she also had about 3 people...(one man and 2 other ladies) knodding in agreement with her. Whatever .

 

[4greatboys]

maybe for the same reasons that other people don't like to see children playing with guns or army toys.

I really and truly don't understand how you can make such a presumptive statement.

Your first statement seems presumptive to me. Not all of us having a problem with kids playing army or even just playing with toy guns. I think its just a natural part of kids growing up to do some role play.
I did as a child and I can assure all I have never had a desire to become a mass murderer or serial killer.

 

[shortbun]

Well, I'd be willing to bet she has no respect for the people in real uniforms, either the active duty uniformed soldiers - who are out there dying to preserve her right to say such stupid things to children.
How sad for her to be so pathetic.
And your son is precious.

I don't think that's true at all and following one ill timed comment with another bad one isn't always the way to repair a bad situation. I am, as most of you know, for peace AND I don't like to see little children encouraged to think of war as a good thing BUT I would NEVER, EVER say anything to a child OR their parents about that issue. Each family has their own way and their own choices to make. The woman should not have shared her opinion; she was totally wrong to do it. ALSO-I totally support our men and women in the military. I've sent them care packages, letters of support, gone to their parades, funerals and even loved a marine in my youth. They(our military) are NOT dying to preserve the right of anyone to say stupid things to children-that statement is WAY over the top. They fight and die at the will of our President and his team. Sometimes, it is because a horrible dictator like Hitler or Mussolini need to be defeated; sometimes, it is about money or land; sometimes it is about the freedom of others. The President always has justification for sending the military to fight or declaring war.
Your son is cute. He may or may not become a Marine. My DS wanted to be a firefighter for the first 6 years of his life. Now he desperately wants to be an NBA player. Interesting topic.