Would you say something to another parent at the parks?

[torinsmom]

If you saw someone's kids were getting sunburned, would you say something to the parents? I so wanted to offer sunscreen to a few parents when we were at WDW and US a few weeks ago, but I didn't want to offend them. I mean, I am assuming that they could see the redness on their child, if not on themselves. In the end I didn;t say anything. I don't think I would be offended if someone approached me with that concern. How would you feel?

Marsha

 

[minniebeth]

I used to have a big mouth and say what I thought in a sweet way. I've learned my lesson way too many times and now I just keep my mouth zipped. I say a little prayer in my mind though for whatever I'm just dying to say. Usually it's something like "please make that mommy see that the little one is dragging their paci in the dirt and sticking it in her mouth!"

 

[DawnCt1]

I saw a lilly white child with a blistering, red hot sunburn at Blizzard Beach. It looked like the kind of burn that one is hospitalized for. No shirt, no coverup, ready to go down the family fun raft behind us. I told the life guard when we landed and he said that he would take notice and say something but I don't know if anything was said. I did see a woman at Okemo who had developed a SEVERE frost bite on her nose and her face. I noticed her as we were in line to board the lift. I had never seen one like it before but when you see it, you know it. I said to her, "I know you aren't aware of it, but you are getting severely frost bitten". She gave me a nasty look and said, "Its fine". The "discussion" caught the attention of the Ski Patrol and he approached her and made her go inside to warm up. She didn't look happy but that is the kind of frost bite that makes your face "fall off". I would want someone to tell me.

 

[MiniGirl]

I have offered parents our sunscreen to use for their their children or themselves. I have, in the past, been so severly burned on my shoulders that I couldn't lift my arms. I was absolutely miserable and wouldn't wish it on anyone. My intent is not to shame or offend, but to help. I hope that is the way the offer is received. If it is not, then it doesn't really bother me. After all, I will likely never see them again.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

I'd do it...really when will you see those people again. I'd rather have someone tell me to put some sunscreen on and feel mildly offended or upset then deal with a sunburn for a week or two. Im very fair skinned I burn in like 5 minutes and I have to use SPF 60 or higher so I'd love for someone to tell me!

 

[Debbie7452]

I probably wouldn't say anything...the reason is...two of my kids turn bright red when they are just HOT. It's not really a sunburn and it goes away once they cool off. So you never know if someones really sunburned or what...

Yes, people have pointed out their redness to me quite a few times...I didn't get upset or anything, I just explained no they're just hot!

 

[Stitchfans]

Sure I do. If they are offended oh well. At least I tried. Maybe some will listen and they won't have further problems later.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I probably wouldn't say anything...the reason is...two of my kids turn bright red when they are just HOT. It's not really a sunburn and it goes away once they cool off. So you never know if someones really sunburned or what...

Yes, people have pointed out their redness to me quite a few times...I didn't get upset or anything, I just explained no they're just hot!

I agree. I also turn bright red when I'm just hot, and I've had people come up to me and tell me that I'm getting sunburnt. It's no biggie, but just be aware that not all red skin is sunburnt.

 

[heatherleigh]

I wouldn't be offended, but I wouldn't take the chance on another parent not getting offended. I'm a very laid-back person, but I know not everyone is like that.

 

[torinsmom]

I probably wouldn't say anything...the reason is...two of my kids turn bright red when they are just HOT. It's not really a sunburn and it goes away once they cool off. So you never know if someones really sunburned or what...

Yes, people have pointed out their redness to me quite a few times...I didn't get upset or anything, I just explained no they're just hot!

Is it just your face that gets red? I have had students like that in my class, but I've never seen it anywhere other than the face. The kids I saw at WDW had bright red shoulders and one girl had on spaghetti straps and you could see the white skin underneath. I am pretty sure they were sunburned.

Marsha

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I'm super pale and burn easily (my child is the color of milk chocolate, so you're unlikely to see a visible burn on him), but I don't turn red while I'm burning. Instead, I stay nice and pale until I get out the sun and then presto -- it's like a magic trick.

So, if you saw me bright red at WDW, it would mean that I forgot the sunblock yesterday, not today, and offering it to me today wouldn't help. After all, since I'm already in pain the chance that I forgot today (e.g. that the pain didn't remind me) is minimal to nonexistant.

But like I said, if you said it nicely (e.g. Would you like to borrow some sunblock? Rather than "How dare you let your child get that red!" I wouldn't mind).

On the other hand the other day I went for a walk, and had my son ride ahead on his bike. About 1/4 of a mile in, my son stopped on a park bench to wait for us. Some other biker saw him, saw that he didn't have water (because it was in my backpack, and I was about 2 minutes behind him at this point walking) and felt the need to scream at me "He needs water! Why wouldn't you carry water!". If you spoke to me like that, then I'd not be amused.

 

[krcit]

I've told people a few times that they are getting burned and offered sunscreen. No one has seem offended and I really don't care if they were. My remarks are made with kindness and concern so if someone wants to get offended then they have bigger problems than sunburn

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I probably wouldn't say anything...the reason is...two of my kids turn bright red when they are just HOT. It's not really a sunburn and it goes away once they cool off. So you never know if someones really sunburned or what...

Yes, people have pointed out their redness to me quite a few times...I didn't get upset or anything, I just explained no they're just hot!

Sounds like me and some of my kids. I look like I am going to explode! I turn so red when I am warm that I almost turn purple. I have always been that way.

I guess I might say something nicely to a parent but it would depend on the situation. To be honest I never really notice things like this because we are usually in our own little world when we vacation. I wouldn't be offended though if someone mentioned it to me nicely. If they were snotty and hrumphing I would tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine.

 

[minniebeth]

My remarks are made with kindness and concern so if someone wants to get offended then they have bigger problems than sunburn

I very much agree with this, it's just that my experiences have been if you say anything to a parent that has something to do with their children, some of them get very defensive like you are implying that they are not doing their job parenting, which is of course, not my intent. That's why I don't say anything anymore, personally.

 

[carj]

I agree. I also turn bright red when I'm just hot, and I've had people come up to me and tell me that I'm getting sunburnt. It's no biggie, but just be aware that not all red skin is sunburnt.

This is me too! I am always red when I am hot and I can't tell you how many well-meaning people offer me sunscreen and advice. I don't actually need either. It doesn't annoy me too much unless the person tells me that I AM burned despite my polite efforts to convince them that I am HOT.

I wear plenty of sunscreen and when I take my red-headed, freckled pale skin indoors for an hour or two and cool off, I will return to my normal pinkish color.

If you think that perhaps the mom might have wanted to borrow yours, you could alwyas take it out and start applying some to yourself. You could smile and say something like, "Wow, that sun is brutal, I wasn't expeceting to have to reapply, would you like some sunscreen?" I think that might come off less jundgemental and more friendly "we're in this together as moms". This give you the opportunity to offer and her the opportunity to decline without either one of you being the "rude" one.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

The first time we ever went to WDW I forgot the bottle of sunscreen and left it on the bed back at the hotel. We were staying off-site so We couldn't just pop back and get it. I really appreciated the other parents who were willing to share their sunscreen with us.

 

[golfgal]

I agree. I also turn bright red when I'm just hot, and I've had people come up to me and tell me that I'm getting sunburnt. It's no biggie, but just be aware that not all red skin is sunburnt.

Same here-I get that all the time.

The first time we ever went to WDW I forgot the bottle of sunscreen and left it on the bed back at the hotel. We were staying off-site so We couldn't just pop back and get it. I really appreciated the other parents who were willing to share their sunscreen with us.

I was thinking this too-sitting here with sunburnt shoulders because I forgot my sunscreen yesterday watching DD's golf tournament. I would have gladly accepted an offer of some to use. If I saw this in the parks I would apply some on me or the kids and then offer to the sunburn family so it doesn't come off sounding bad.

 

[golfgal]

I agree. I also turn bright red when I'm just hot, and I've had people come up to me and tell me that I'm getting sunburnt. It's no biggie, but just be aware that not all red skin is sunburnt.

Same here-I get that all the time.

The first time we ever went to WDW I forgot the bottle of sunscreen and left it on the bed back at the hotel. We were staying off-site so We couldn't just pop back and get it. I really appreciated the other parents who were willing to share their sunscreen with us.

I was thinking this too-sitting here with sunburnt shoulders because I forgot my sunscreen yesterday watching DD's golf tournament. I would have gladly accepted an offer of some to use. If I saw this in the parks I would apply some on me or the kids and then offer to the sunburn family so it doesn't come off sounding bad.

I REALLY wanted to say something to the couple we saw on our first day at AK-it was 95+ degrees and they had a NEWBORN in the park--newborn where the umbilical cord stump was still attached newborn .

 

[Debbie7452]

Wow, who knew there were so many in the red-hot club! To answer a PP question my boys get red all over....but there would not be white lines where their clothes covered. My boys get really, really red. It was alarming before I got used to it. My girls were not like that and my DH and I are not like that either...weird! I probably seem WAY too nonchalant about it when people mention it. It does look kind of scary.

 

[bekkiz]

Well, I'll be the voice of dissent. I get hassled all of the time by people I do not know admonishing me for my lack of suncreen. I always wear sunscreen. I'm just red skinned, especially when it's warm out, as are my kids. I do get offended when someone I don't know pats my arm and asks "wow, I bet that hurts" or says loudly enough for me to hear "see kids, thats why you wear sunscreen, so you don't look like that lady" or asks me if I knew what sunscreen is.

I don't, out of the goodness of my heart, comment on people's food choices, shoe choices or smoking choices even if I believe it's detrimental to their well being. My skin tone is nothing I can control and it's condescending and rude for someone else to mention it, especially if you don't know me.