I went to the park last week with some of my friends and their children. There was a mom there that we had never met before. We wished that she was familiar with this list of "unwritten" mommy rules:
1. Don't give food to children that aren't yours without asking their mom first. It is frowned upon to cause another child to have an allergic reaction and go into anaphylactic shock. So unless you carry an Epipen in your diaper bag alongside your Nutter Butters, keep your snacks to yourself.
2. Don't tell other moms that you think that their children should be careful. Don't tell them to slow down or not to climb so high. This is especially true for school age children. If their mothers kept them alive for 5+ years then their mothers probably don't need your help.
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| This little 15 month old may look like she shouldn't be climbing this equipment. Refrain from trying to tell her mother (me) that her child shouldn't be doing this. Her mother has spent like a million more hours with her than you (random woman at the park) has spent with her. She knows what her child can and can't handle. |
3. Don't discipline children that are not yours. Sometimes it is difficult to resist the urge especially when some children act like miniature sociopaths. Keep an eye on your own children, even though I am sure they are perfect little angels.
4. Watch your language! Your children may be used to hearing foul language but my children don't live with the Real Housewives of NJ. I don't need them coming up to me at the park and asking what $%@# and *%#@ mean.
Please feel free to print out this list of rules and pass them out to the parents that you see at the park. Maybe we should have the nurses in the maternity ward pass them out to all new parents.
Lol! This made me laugh. It's true, some moms just think they know everything about everyone, don't they? :)
ReplyDeleteYes!
ReplyDeleteI would so love to print this out and leave it in a few places!
My daughter has been a climber since she could walk, and I get that look like I'm insane when she is climbing above my head...
YES!!! Love this list!! :)
ReplyDeleteAs the mom of a child with multiple food allergies, THANK YOU for this list! :)
ReplyDeleteCan I add, please make sure your own child is bahaving?!?!? Argh!
ReplyDeletegreat list!
ReplyDeletenew follower here!
popping in from the monday mommy's blog hop! come check out my blog, http://www.bearandlionmama.com/
Oh yes, I remember those days! Unfortunately some parents really don't watch their kids at these places, and that makes it difficult for the parents who are trying to let their kids have fun.
ReplyDeleteI remember one kid who was running around pushing and hitting people. I watched the mom screaming at his dad and the dad was yelling back. I grabbed my kids and said "We are out of here" because I just didn't know what was going to develop with these two strangers fighting.
I also remember when it was MY kid who was two or three and actually running around spitting at people. No one told me but I heard parents talking and I wondered who this little "brat" was, lol!
When I figured out it was MY kid he got a time out and I had him apologize. But it's always a little humbling if it's your kid causing the ruckus, lol! Thanks for hosting today!
Ha! My son is 11 months old and these are things I have already "worried" about.
ReplyDeleteXOXO/Lena @ RootandBlossom
haha! It's kinda sad that some of these need to be said.
ReplyDeleteHalelujiah! ((Stomps foot)) these should seriously be posted somewhere! The nerve of some people! LOL! Thanks so much for sharing - now, here's hoping that the right mama will see it and read it! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat list! They should have this posted at parks!
ReplyDeleteRitchil
http://chengand3kids.blogspot.com/
lol...great list! I can't believe someone would give a stranger's child a snack without asking. There are just so many reasons not to do that!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I always got the "be careful" stuff from my kids as well. I have boys who have both always been climbers. So I was the mom standing back while her 3-year-old was climbing the plastic "rock wall" while other moms are standing their poised to catch them. It'll be okay. The thing is that in a lot of ways, I'm pretty over protective and cautious. But like you, I knew what my boys were capable of and what they could handle.
I love this list! WOW I can't believe that someone would discipline a strangers kids let alone feed their kids.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness...this is all SO true! My kids usually don't attempt to climb something high unless they know they can do it, so even if they don't look like they should be doing something, I know they're OK.
ReplyDeleteI came over from the 733 linky.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the food and the language. However, I have been to parks quite a few times where parents are not watching their children and they are doing things that could hurt them or other children and I have no problem saying something, specifically if my children are being effected by or could be hurt by the child's behavior. And if my child was doing something they shouldn't be and I didn't happen to notice, I would be perfectly fine with another parent telling them that their behavior isn't safe and that they should stop... as long as it is done in a calm and polite manner and a stranger isn't yelling or being mean to my child.
(And after writing this I have realized that one says not to tell other MOMS that their children should be careful... so I agree with that one too. When I first read it, I misread and took it to say not to tell the children to be careful.)
Just a random stranger's two cents. :)
This is a great list!! I agree with the food and language -- but I especially love "don't tell them they should be that high" because children will listen to those words and some might take them to heart and all the work you've done to invest in their brave little hearts could be shattered. Visiting from Deep Roots :) -Amy
ReplyDeleteWow. Your parks sound kinda intense! I agree with all these rules, but find my little town generally follows them all.
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate that we would need such a list, but I do think it's a good one! Thanks for sharing at One Sharendipity Place!
ReplyDeletesue @ TheT2Women.com
Our park is filled with parents who must have received a copy of those rules! We love going there and the parents always seem engaged with their kids and content to let the others play. Thanks so much for linking up with me at Walking Redeemed last week!
ReplyDeleteGreat rules!! Although the no discipline one is hard when the other kids are maniacs! We went to the mall playground which has clear height limits and some big boys were in there running around and tormenting all the little ones and it was all I could do not to tell at them and their parents!!
ReplyDeleteI like the rules and have encountered those types of parents over the years. The ONLY time I have ever uttered one word to a child or a parent about discipline was when said child was actually hurting my child and the parent was watching it happen. I tried to be kind to the child (but firm) as I realized this wasn't his fault because he was being taught this was OK by a parent allowing it to happen.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are climbers, especially our older son. He always has been. I try very hard to allow him this freedom of rough and tumble dare devil play as a young boy that I don't understand as a woman.