Just how bad can parents get?

pigpen

I stripped my baby to her nappy and sat her outside in a thunderstorm day before yesterday... so she could splash in the puddles on the patio... I stood in the kitchen so I didnt get wet.

I sent my 6 y/o out to get wet too... it is great fun and had the baby not been happy to be getting rained on it would have been crying.. babies cry when they are not happy..

Tygermoth

This is one of those 'damned if you do - damned if you don’t' things.

For example it was full on sunny here yesterday as stonking 30 deg. I was out on my lunch sat in a small local square which is a lovely little sun trap.

The sun was high in the sky and the heat was uncomfortable and if you were in the full sun twas nigh on unbearable.

Across from me a mother and very small child pulled up her buggy and stat down so she could have a fag and chat to a mate on her mobile.

The pair were in the full sun…. child in a little vest thing only. She in a hat and sunnies.

10 mins later she was still yakking and I could see the poor child was very uncomfortable and its little pink arms and legs were waving about while it was squalling. The mother just kept jamming the dummy back in telling it to hush and went back to her conversation and fag.

I hummed and harred for another ten mins about whether I should mention something… she could have block on……. it could be becasuse it was feeding time… and so on.

In the end she lit up again and dialled another number so I knew she was going to be there a while wandered over and stood in front of the buggies shading the child. who stopped crying instantly. I tried for the subtle approach and said 'aww bless did you just fancy a bit of shade' to the baby however she just glanced at me and carried on with her obviously very important call.

In the end I said to the mother I think your child is getting sunburned.

answered with f*ck off, what do you know.

Makes me sad that if you mention anything its always (in my experience) countered with such aggression.

I was with a co-worker and we witnessed a very small child being punched by its mother in a supermarket car park. She clocked we had seen her and went mental and blocked my car in so she would demand I get out and fight her. All we did was call the police.

As demonstrated on this thread you even hint at worrying about a Childs welfare and suddenly its handbags at dawn.

(should mention she remained in the sun for nearly my full lunch hour)

Jewel_2

Tygermoth wrote: »

This is one of those 'damned if you do - damned if you don’t' things.

For example it was full on sunny here yesterday as stonking 30 deg. I was out on my lunch sat in a small local square which is a lovely little sun trap.

The sun was high in the sky and the heat was uncomfortable and if you were in the full sun twas nigh on unbearable.

Across from me a mother and very small child pulled up her buggy and stat down so she could have a fag and chat to a mate on her mobile.

The pair were in the full sun…. child in a little vest thing only. She in a hat and sunnies.

10 mins later she was still yakking and I could see the poor child was very uncomfortable and its little pink arms and legs were waving about while it was squalling. The mother just kept jamming the dummy back in telling it to hush and went back to her conversation and fag.

I hummed and harred for another ten mins about whether I should mention something… she could have block on……. it could be becasuse it was feeding time… and so on.

In the end she lit up again and dialled another number so I knew she was going to be there a while wandered over and stood in front of the buggies shading the child. who stopped crying instantly. I tried for the subtle approach and said 'aww bless did you just fancy a bit of shade' to the baby however she just glanced at me and carried on with her obviously very important call.

In the end I said to the mother I think your child is getting sunburned.

answered with f*ck off, what do you know.

Makes me sad that if you mention anything its always (in my experience) countered with such aggression.

I was with a co-worker and we witnessed a very small child being punched by its mother in a supermarket car park. She clocked we had seen her and went mental and blocked my car in so she would demand I get out and fight her. All we did was call the police.

As demonstrated on this thread you even hint at worrying about a Childs welfare and suddenly its handbags at dawn.

With all due respect, I would have probably told you to mind your own business. I wouldn't have sworn at you, but I would have been cross.

No you shouldn't leave babies in the sun, but to be honest, it was probably the way the mother 'looked' like she didn't care that bothered you the most (as you've mentioned fag, mobile phone etc)

Your situation is, nevertheless, more serious than warm rain on a baby's head. As far as I can see, there are no health risks associated with a bit of warm water.

Tygermoth

This is what I don't understand... why would you tell me to mind my on business? or anyone respond with venom?

I would only ever have the best interests of the child at heart... as would most people so I can not understand why such an aggressive response to a gentle enquiry.

Even it the person was a busy body a simple - everything is fine she has sun block on but thanks for asking.......

19lottie82

I was in the shopping centre next to where I work a few months ago and saw a child in a pram maybe aged 18 months and saw a young mum giving it a greggs sausage roll with the pastry removed (ie a bit of beige meat), and pouring a mcdonalds milkshake into its bottle! :mad:

Jewel_2

Tygermoth wrote: »

This is what i dont understand... why would you tell me to mind my only business? or anyone resond with venom?

I would only ever have the best intrests of the child at heart... as would most people so i can not understand why such an agressive response to a gentle enquiry.

Even it the person was a busy body a simple - everything is fine she has sunblock on but thanks for asking.......

I get your point, but again its all about what 'we' see as moral values, and then think we can tell others our opinions and concerns. For example, I wouldn't come up to you and say "excuse me, but those red trousers really don't go with that orange top and I'm worried you'll be made fun of". If you're happy with your dress sense, then so be it. Now, there's a limit of course. Sometimes there's proven concerns and your sun example is one of those grey areas. But to be honest, I'm not going to go into a well know burger bar and say "scuze me all you parents, I think your kids would prefer cucumber sandwiches".

And the rain example just doesn't make sense, it's as ridiculous as saying a child shouldn't eat ice-cream incase they catch a cold.

Tygermoth

Jewel wrote: »

With all due respect, I would have probably told you to mind your own business. I wouldn't have sworn at you, but I would have been cross.

No you shouldn't leave babies in the sun, but to be honest, it was probably the way the mother 'looked' like she didn't care that bothered you the most (as you've mentioned fag, mobile phone etc)

Your situation is, nevertheless, more serious than warm rain on a baby's head. As far as I can see, there are no health risks associated with a bit of warm water.

Nope. it was just a full descripion of events. the only thing bothering me was a small child in full sunlight.

lostinrates

Tygermoth wrote: »

This is one of those 'damned if you do - damned if you don’t' things.

with that part I agree. And also that we should be looking out for the kids in our society, more readily stepping up and saying something or calling people with authority to make judgments.

However, there are possible explanations to what the OP saw, (as in many cases) and yet the worst conclusion is jumped too with no possibility for personal fallibility considered.

We need to feel able to express concern, we also need to know sometimes our concerns are not always valid.

Jewel_2

19lottie82 wrote: »

I was in the shopping centre next to where I work a few months ago and saw a child in a pram maybe aged 18 months and saw a young mum giving it a greggs sausage roll with the pastry removed (ie a bit of beige meat), and pouring a mcdonalds milkshake into its bottle! :mad:

Did you say anything?

euronorris

Jewel wrote: »

I get your point, but again its all about what 'we' see as moral values, and then think we can tell others our opinions and concerns. For example, I wouldn't come up to you and say "excuse me, but those red trousers really don't go with that orange top and I'm worried you'll be made fun of". If you're happy with your dress sense, then so be it. Now, there's a limit of course. Sometimes there's proven concerns and your sun example is one of those grey areas. But to be honest, I'm not going to go into a well know burger bar and say "scuze me all you parents, I think your kids would prefer cucumber sandwiches".

And the rain example just doesn't make sense, it's as ridiculous as saying a child shouldn't eat ice-cream incase they catch a cold.

I actually feel that the sun example isn't a grey area. Too much Sun exposure can cause health problems, and the long term effects of sunburn, especially at such a young age, has the possibility to lead to skin cancer.

So, in that instance, I think it is a good idea to say something if you have concerns. And I think most parents should realise that isn't a slight against your parenting skills, just someone showing concern for your child which is a lovely thing. Of course, if sunblock is applied, that's great and the lady could've said that in response. But I also feel that, in that heat, exposure to direct sunlight should be limited to avoid sunstroke and dehydration.

A little bit of warm rain though, is no cause for concern. And even if it was, it would be better to say something to the mother than to moan about it on a forum. After all, what is this thread going to do? Nothing.