Do your children play outside in winter?

GobbledyGook

mrcow wrote: »

Mine don't play out in the streets at all. I certainly don't "chuck them out" to play anywhere.

They probably don't go out as much in the winter as the summer and wouldn't want to play out in the rain in particular.

If your children are happy, why is it anyone else's business?

Where do yours play in the winter?

That's a genuine question btw. There's no way they could play in the garden as the rain has just left the grass like a swamp.

It's not really. I just don't like being harshly judged for something I think is relatively normal.

If I didn't like and respect her then I wouldn't be bothered. When clever folks seem horrified by something I do it does make me question it for a moment. Even though it's daft really.

fluffnutter

GobbledyGook wrote: »

I was at the corner shop and one of my neighbours who I actually really liked (and respected - she has a great career that she's worked very hard for. Inspiring is too strong a word for her, but I can't think of another one) was having a moan about all and sundry to the shopkeeper. One of her comments was about how the "silly moo at number x" kicks her kids out to play no matter what the weather.

Sometimes people can be quite disingenuous, real social chameleons. We adapt our demeanour, sometimes our views, to suit the audience. Particularly in dull social situations such as buying groceries and standing at bus stops. Perhaps she's playing to the crowd a little and basically saying the kind of meaningless guff that she expects the shopkeeper wants to hear.

She's still the same person you like and admire. I'd brush off her comments - she probably doesn't even believe them herself.

clairfairy

My boys are 3 and if it not raining then the back door is open and they are in and out as much as they like, i don't let out the front as our road just isn't safe. It's a 30 but no one sticks to that and we have a lot of farm vehicles going past.

I like the idea of the treat tub to last them but I don't think mine would be sensible to make it last. I would try not to let the comments upset you too much, i'm the only one i know with twins and the amount of people that have an opinion of how i should be doing things is unreal but now i just smile and nod and think to myself i bet you wouldn't stick to those opinions if you had them 24/7. If you children are happy and healthy then that is all that matters

sassyblue

Was it you this woman was talking about, or was it someone else who let their kids out? If it was you, you missed the perfect opportunity to walk up behind her ready to say 'hello' as soon as she turned around.

Ignore her anyway! Of course your kids should play out, why are sledges made for snowy weather? Why bother with snowmen, puddle jumping, etc....

There's something about some mums who feel the need to give their advice when it's not needed, even total strangers can judge your parenting when you're out. :mad:

Ignore, ignore, ignore. Kids need to get outside and burn energy, they do go stir crazy when inside for too long. x

Scrapaholic

If your children are happy to be out , why not . The treat box sounds good too . Everything in moderation . Have confidence in yourself . Sounds as if you're doing a good job .

DavidF

You are obviously a good mother. More kids need to be out playing in the street IMHO. People wonder why kids get ill so easily, why they are over weight and why they don't develop any social skills as in street sense ect.

Give me a kid outside playing in all weathers any day over some poor mite cooped up cocooned inside 4 walls from wake up until bed time.

Brighton_belle

It's great that your kids were out playing in less than perfect weather. As someone else said - there is no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes.And your treat box sounds great.
I'm sorry to got to hear what she said - presumably she didn't realise?
Be confident in your parenting choices. I'll read your ;posts over the last 3 years and you always sound a great parent to me.

carefullycautious

I think I would be more upset at being called a 'silly moo' how rude.

You are doing everything right, allowing your children to take exercise and fresh air. I love your treat jar idea, how fab is that to teach them to make them last, well done.

Woman can be so cruel to and about each other.

It sounds like she does not like children and would moan no matter what her neighbours did, ignore.

GobbledyGook

She didn't realise I could hear her, but realised that I had heard her when she seen me. She didn't say anything, just blushed bright red and walked out. I didn't say anything, just got my shopping, smiled politely when the shopkeeper (who lives near us) praised my children and told me to ignore her and then left. I've got about 50 clever, witty or intelligent responses now, but had none at the time!

It's a very safe street. There's nowhere to go, there are quite high speed bumps so people come in very slowly and it's a street that used to have a fair number of children who all played out so people are used to coming in slowly (plus there is at least one cat in almost each house so people also look out for them).

The treat thing is part laziness. I got so fed up trying to remember who had the raisins yesterday and who had the Flake. Plus I realised DD1 was mostly eating treats because her sister was, not because she particularly wanted one. Also I have a bad relationship with food. If there was 4 packets of crisps in the cupboard I'd end up eating them. So I also have a treat box. Don't get me wrong in the first week the girls ate everything by day 2 and moaned for the rest of the time, but they only done it once!

It's just hard to hear someone criticising. Sometimes you can't win. If you don't let them out you are mollycoddling them and encouraging them to be couch potatoes, but if you do let them out you are irresponsible.

Thanks again. I do worry when people have a go at my parenting. I guess I still have that inner fear that bad parenting it hereditary.

GwylimT

Our son did when he wanted, our daughter doesn't yet though unless my wife or I are outside with her/she is in the garden as she is only four so she is far far too young to be outside on her own.