Would you say something to another parent at the parks?

[torinsmom]

Well, if I HAD said anything, it would have just been something like "I noticed your daughter looks like she is a little sunburned. If you'd like to borrow some sunscreen, I'd be happy to share."

Marsha

 

[bluesaturn]

Well, if I HAD said anything, it would have just been something like "I noticed your daughter looks like she is a little sunburned. If you'd like to borrow some sunscreen, I'd be happy to share."

Marsha

If you have to say something, don't add the "I noticed she looks like she's sunburned." Just offer the sunscreen to share.

 

[lotzasunshine]

I might say something. But I have a serious experience to back me up. My father died of a rare kind of skin cancer that can live under the skin for years before it is discovered. He lived in Arizona, and as a kid in the 60's sun screen was not widely used. We only had 9 months with him after they found it. He was 49. I have always tried to be vigilant about it as I am a pale skinned red head, but even more so now. Literally 10 minutes in the sun will burn me. I look silly with all of my hats and long sleeves on hot days, but it is worth it to not have the pain of a burn!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I might say something. But I have a serious experience to back me up. My father died of a rare kind of skin cancer that can live under the skin for years before it is discovered. He lived in Arizona, and as a kid in the 60's sun screen was not widely used. We only had 9 months with him after they found it. He was 49. I have always tried to be vigilant about it as I am a pale skinned red head, but even more so now. Literally 10 minutes in the sun will burn me. I look silly with all of my hats and long sleeves on hot days, but it is worth it to not have the pain of a burn!

Sorry about your dad.

As for the original question, I wouldn't be offended, as long as someone didn't say something rude, as it sounds like has happened to some of the PPs. We're all in this together, anyway!

I've shared this before, but at BB, we were eating hot dogs and a family kept looking over. The mom suddenly ran over and pointed out that my son's hot dog bun had mold on the bottom! I was really grateful they pointed it out -- we never noticed. (Actually, don't know how the heck they saw that, but I'm grateful for their eagle eyes!)

 

[MiniGirl]

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.

I'm sorry you've heard those remarks and such. I, too, am fair-skinned and get really red when hot. My oldest is the same way. I have been offered sunscreen literally dozens of times, but fortunately, I have never heard any rude of condensending remarks like you have. I guess that is why it wouldn't (and doesn't) bother me and why I wouldn't hesitate to offer it to someone else. I see nothing wrong with pulling out my sunscreen and applying some and catching the eye of someone who may need it and offering it to her "while I have it out anyway."

 

[torinsmom]

If you have to say something, don't add the "I noticed she looks like she's sunburned." Just offer the sunscreen to share.

Is it rude to say "I noticed she looks sunburned"? Doesn't seem rude to me, especially when stated in a friendly tone. I used the word "looks" so I would not be saying the child is definitely sunburned. To me, taking out sunscreen and asking someone if they would like to share is kind of weird without giving a reason. I don't typically re-apply sunscreen at the parks, since we take a break at lunch, so I would be faking putting on the sunscreen.

See, that is why I didn't offer, because someone might have gotten offended over so simple a gesture. Yet, if this child was truly sunburned at 11am and it only got hotter, it could ruin the child's vacation. I sure would want someone to tell me.

I don't know why people get so easily offended these days. DS and I gave away some of our GAD fastpasses at AK and you should have seen the way people looked at us, like we we about to rob them or something. I thought it would be like giving out a little pixie dust (fastpasses good for RIGHT NOW, when the return time is 2 hours away), but it was more like the people couldn't be bothered with us.

Marsha

 

[lotzasunshine]

i've shared this before, but at bb, we were eating hot dogs and a family kept looking over. The mom suddenly ran over and pointed out that my son's hot dog bun had mold on the bottom! I was really grateful they pointed it out -- we never noticed. (actually, don't know how the heck they saw that, but i'm grateful for their eagle eyes!)

eeeewwww!!!!!!

 

[laughinplace199]

As long as it was said nicely, I wouldn't be offended if someone offered my kids sunscreen. Two of my three kids are blonde and very fair (our ped once described my youngest as "practically see-through"). We are very vigilant about using sunscreen, so if they were burning it would be because we missed an area. I would be grateful to have that pointed out to us. That would be way better than having a child in severe pain due to a sunburn.

Now that I think of it, a few years ago I was offered sunscreen. A gentleman came up to me at MK and said that he notcied my scalp (where my hair was parted) was very red and he offered me some sunscreen. I had my own sunscreen, but I thanked him and then put some on. My scalp was definitely burned, but it would have been a lot worse if I had gone the whole day without any sunscreen.

 

[ZeitgeistDuck]

My son is a very pale towhead, he gets red when he's hot too.I got all stressed out yesterday at the beach when his arms were all red, but 5 minutes in the air conditioned car and he was back to normal. I would not be offended if someone said " it looks like he's getting a sunburn", because it DOES look like he's getting a sunburn. People get so hyped up over nothing these days. Its kind to offer the sunscreen to the other parents.

 

[design_mom]

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, ...

That's me too (but my kids tan nicely). There's many a day when I leave the beach/pool/park patting myself on the back for avoiding sunburn, only have it "pop out" hours later, even when I've been slathered in sunblock all day. Still though, I wouldn't mind *at all* if someone said, "You're looking a little red. Would you like some of my sunscreen?" It sounds like a nice thing to do to me. (Now, a lecture on the hazards of sunburn would be less welcome. Believe me, I know.)