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Climbing up the slide...
Today I took my children to a local park, they just turned 2 but I am very strict to follow the socially appropriate rules and I under no circumstance let my children climb a slide, and they know to use the steps, today my sons claimed the steps on the playground to go down the slide, maybe 5 steps. I stay behind them and walk to the side to let them slide down, today 2 kids ran so fast up the slide with the mother standing there on her cellphone. My back was to the other kids so she clearly saw me assisting my kids. My son got frightened by a kid running towards him, stepped to the side and fell backward through an opening 5 ft down onto his head and neck, I saw it all happening and ran so fast around the slide to try and grab him and didn’t make it. This mother kept on going like nothing was wrong. After I made sure my sons neck wasn’t snapped (he landed directly on his head and I saw his next move back) and called the doctor, I went to this woman and literally freaked the hell out and I think I cursed which I know was wrong. I was irate. If the playground is empty, fine let your kids have at it, they are kids but the playground was obviously crowded with the nice weather and this mother saw nothing wrong with her 4-5 year olds charging up as a slide as my kids were trying to go down. She also saw my son fall, never apologized or came over, knowing I have another child because she saw me helping them both up. She scoffed me off and told me to watch my kids better. I was so furious and in tears, was I wrong? What the hell! I now have to watch my son for signs of concussion and wake him up 3x overnight 
Message edited 2/4/2019 5:07:46 PM.
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Posted 2/4/19 3:18 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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summerBaby10
let's be nice
Member since 9/07 10208 total posts
Name:
Wifey
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
Your poor son! I would have also been angry. Her reaction was gross. I hate lazy parents.
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| Posted 2/4/19 3:51 PM |
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StaceyWill
It's a girl!!!
Member since 6/10 21539 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Climbing up the slide...
I'm so sorry that happened to your son. How scary!! My DD is 6 and I shadow her in the park. You have to! I see so many parents towards the back of the park and their kids are in the front. Drives me nuts.
And, as a mom, I can't imagine seeing a small child fall like that and not run over. Or at least ask how he's doing.
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| Posted 2/4/19 4:16 PM |
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lightblue
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 2249 total posts
Name:
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
I find a lot of parents are like this when I go to the park- not supervising their kids and chatting it up with one another. It's def annoying. I hope your child is ok!
Message edited 2/4/2019 4:38:41 PM.
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| Posted 2/4/19 4:37 PM |
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nycgirl
Angels!
Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
Sorry! That stinks.
Hopefully your kid is OK.
Just this weekend, a kid pushed my tiny 3 year old down the slide after he decided she was hesitating (not that long). The parent thought it was funny. People suck.
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| Posted 2/4/19 5:40 PM |
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loveus
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/13 684 total posts
Name:
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Climbing up the slide...
As a mom with 2 small kids I understand your frustration and people suck. It’s so hard to keep up with both and be in 2 places at once.
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| Posted 2/4/19 6:34 PM |
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
I would’ve scratched her eyes out with that response!
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| Posted 2/4/19 7:23 PM |
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Climbing up the slide...
So to offer a different perspective, i have a daughter who is 4 and a son who just turned 2 the very end of October. I also have a 2 month old. I rarely shadow my kids at the playground. I think it’s important for kids to learn how to interact with one another and problem solve without parents doing these things for them. I also let them climb up the slide-it’s actually great for gross motor skills. That being said, I watch them. If they’re being super obnoxious, I’ll tell them to stop or take turns. But 99% of stuff they have to figure out on their own. If they can’t do any of the equipment, i rarely help them-this way they learn to do it independently within their abilities.
It’s scary to see them fall though. My son was climbing up a ladde today, and i stayed next to him the first 4-5 times to make sure he could do it. I then let him be while i pushed the baby around (yes, still watching), and on his 15th or so time up the ladder he fell about 6 feet. Thankfully he was fine and kept playing, but it was the same thing-on his back/head.
Message edited 2/4/2019 7:38:58 PM.
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| Posted 2/4/19 7:37 PM |
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amac27
LIF Toddler
Member since 8/09 471 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
Kids running up the slide is my biggest pet peeve- it's irritating and dangerous. I am sorry that happened to you and I probably would have reacted the same way. I hope that your son is ok!!
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| Posted 2/4/19 7:39 PM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
Name:
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Climbing up the slide...
She sounds like a real peach.
I shadow DD at the playground. She is 3. It is my job as her parent to teacher her how to navigate interactions. If she were 8 that's a different story.
Full disclosure, I stopped taking DD to the playground after the last time I went there were parents at the toddler playground with coolers full of beer (in glass bottles) letting their 10 year olds run amok. Now DH takes her because I hate people in general but I especially hate people with children.
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| Posted 2/4/19 8:53 PM |
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babyfever24
LIF Adult
Member since 1/11 3340 total posts
Name:
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
lazy and typical......every parent at the park is on their phone not paying attention to their kid I hope your little one feels better!
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| Posted 2/4/19 8:57 PM |
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NicoleF219
LIF Infant
Member since 5/12 232 total posts
Name:
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Climbing up the slide...
I would have ripped her throat out. I only let my son (he's almost 3) climb up the slide if we are the only ones there or the only ones playing on the little kid slides. I never let him do it when kids are climbing up the correct way and going down the slide. He knows he needs to do it like that too and wait his turn.
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| Posted 2/4/19 8:58 PM |
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Mrs213
????????
Member since 2/09 18986 total posts
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Climbing up the slide...
People are just complete assholes. Sometimes I feel like the weird one for reprimanding my kids for stuff like that. I hate kids running up the slide. That lady should be ashamed. I hope your son is okay
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| Posted 2/4/19 9:55 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
When my kids were small i would let them climb up if we were alone. It is actually developmentally appropriate for a 5 year old. Also, letting a 5 year old play independently is important for their growth. You are not on top of a five year old like a two year old. I have to be honest with you though, at two, I always held my kids hands going down the slide because 5 year olds like to climb up slides. If we were out at a slide in public, it was my job as a mom of a two year old to be on top of my kid. It was not the job of a 5 year olds parents to be on top of the 5 year old the same way you are on top of a two year old. They have different needs. And if you could see the 5 year old climbing up the slide, then it is on you to protect your younger child because a 5 year old will not understand that. The other mom was wrong for blowing you off, but at two you really just have to be on top of them. It stinks that your kid fell. I sincerely hope he is ok. But when you go to an open play area you are doing so knowing there are risks. Unfortunately, this is a risk. In addition, I think you will see what happens when your own child is 5. I know you will hate that answer, but what I found upsetting when my own child was younger, was not the same as when they were older.
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| Posted 2/4/19 10:55 PM |
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
Posted by LSP2005
When my kids were small i would let them climb up if we were alone. It is actually developmentally appropriate for a 5 year old. Also, letting a 5 year old play independently is important for their growth. You are not on top of a five year old like a two year old. I have to be honest with you though, at two, I always held my kids hands going down the slide because 5 year olds like to climb up slides. If we were out at a slide in public, it was my job as a mom of a two year old to be on top of my kid. It was not the job of a 5 year olds parents to be on top of the 5 year old the same way you are on top of a two year old. They have different needs. And if you could see the 5 year old climbing up the slide, then it is on you to protect your younger child because a 5 year old will not understand that. The other mom was wrong for blowing you off, but at two you really just have to be on top of them. It stinks that your kid fell. I sincerely hope he is ok. But when you go to an open play area you are doing so knowing there are risks. Unfortunately, this is a risk. In addition, I think you will see what happens when your own child is 5. I know you will hate that answer, but what I found upsetting when my own child was younger, was not the same as when they were older.
I get climbing is developmentally appropriate but because my back was to these other children so I could see my own, I had no way of seeing them until they were barreling up a slide with their mother standing there watching them, it’s was this mother’s responsibility to watch her children when she could clearly see I’m assisting my two children down. Unfortunately for me, taking my children places and doing things is always a struggle, I have twins and I have absolutely no help, ever unless my husband is home from work. I don’t think my twins should have to suffer and not aloud to be kids and run, I have had to teach them from a young age they need to stay together and we have to compromise what we play on at playgrounds and rotate because I can’t be in 2 places at once. I take them to playgrounds that have areas specifically for toddlers to reduce older kids trampling them because I have to find equipment low enough that I’m holding on to them. These kids were clearly too old to be in a 2 year old area. This was one of my worse fears my child falling off playground equipment and it happened and god forbid my sons neck snapped seeing him fall like that, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to take my children back to a playground unless my husband is home which I feel like the kids will miss out on. When my children are older and 5 even if climbing a slide is developmentally appropriate they need to respect other children at a playground that they are following the “rules” and using a slide appropriately by climbing the steps then going down. If I don’t teach them, who will? And if I do let them do it, when they get whacked in the face for climbing up as someone is going down and they get hurt, once again, I didn’t teach them and they suffer. I also would expect my son to apologize to another child if he hurt them, even by accident, he wouldn’t like it if he got hurt . I get if a playground is empty but it wasn’t and I think this mother regardless of their age should watch their kids on a playground one so they don’t fall and get hurt and two so some sicko doesn’t walk off with their child, I’m sorry texting and phone calls aren’t more important than your child and if it’s an emergency pull your kids to the side to take the call so you can focus on the call and then them. Thankfully my son is ok and nothing broke and he’s acting normal and we were able to get him up a few times last night and he was fine
Message edited 2/5/2019 7:26:28 AM.
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| Posted 2/5/19 7:17 AM |
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
Posted by mommywantsababy
So to offer a different perspective, i have a daughter who is 4 and a son who just turned 2 the very end of October. I also have a 2 month old. I rarely shadow my kids at the playground. I think it’s important for kids to learn how to interact with one another and problem solve without parents doing these things for them. I also let them climb up the slide-it’s actually great for gross motor skills. That being said, I watch them. If they’re being super obnoxious, I’ll tell them to stop or take turns. But 99% of stuff they have to figure out on their own. If they can’t do any of the equipment, i rarely help them-this way they learn to do it independently within their abilities.
It’s scary to see them fall though. My son was climbing up a ladde today, and i stayed next to him the first 4-5 times to make sure he could do it. I then let him be while i pushed the baby around (yes, still watching), and on his 15th or so time up the ladder he fell about 6 feet. Thankfully he was fine and kept playing, but it was the same thing-on his back/head.
I get it’s great motor skills but I think the risk of safety for themselves and other children outweighs the use of climbing a slide for gross motor development. And yes I agree I can’t always be there and problem solving is crucial, but my children turn 2, 3 weeks ago. They can barely get through a day problem solving how to share together without someone crying, someone hitting etc, and I help them navigate that every day in how to handle. I can’t expect them to mitigate a slide issue with a 5 year old when they just turned 2 and have no idea why a child is climbing a slide... they don’t have the understanding yet, from their view they are getting ready to go down a slide and see someone bigger charging up a slide toward them and naturally get frightened and upset.
Message edited 2/5/2019 7:40:20 AM.
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| Posted 2/5/19 7:39 AM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Climbing up the slide...
I completely get you are upset that your child got hurt and we’ve all been there but I can almost guarantee that your kid will be the one run to up the slide. They all do it. And while you can try and stop it you will have you back turned for 10 seconds and it will happen. So be prepared to be that mom you screamed at. You might not be on your phone but things happen
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| Posted 2/5/19 7:56 AM |
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
Posted by alli3131
I completely get you are upset that your child got hurt and we’ve all been there but I can almost guarantee that your kid will be the one run to up the slide. They all do it. And while you can try and stop it you will have you back turned for 10 seconds and it will happen. So be prepared to be that mom you screamed at. You might not be on your phone but things happen
I have to agree with this.
I am so sorry you're child got hurt, I sincerely hope he is ok. I can't imagine how scared you were.
Being a parent of a 4/5 year is different than being a parent of a 2 year old. You're coming off like "my kid would NEVER do that" or you would do better as a mom than this lady when you haven't been there.
For a 2 year old, you hover, for a 4 year old, they need freedom. I've been that mom on the phone, most likely getting work done, but still watching. I personally would have stepped in and took that as a teachable moment for the children to be more aware of people around them. If someone is on a slide, going up or down, you wait. It's that simple. Kids are kids though, and that why I hated the playground when my kids were little. Because even if other kids were unsafe, it was still 100% on me to keep my children safe - not twins, but multiple children that needed help.
My kids climb up the slides, up the fire poles, up the side of the playground, but for the most part they do it when no one else is using the equipment.
I have a strong never say never and never judge policy in parenting.
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| Posted 2/5/19 8:21 AM |
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Katareen
5,000 Posts!
Member since 4/10 7180 total posts
Name:
Katherine
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
Posted by TwinMommyToBoys
Posted by mommywantsababy
So to offer a different perspective, i have a daughter who is 4 and a son who just turned 2 the very end of October. I also have a 2 month old. I rarely shadow my kids at the playground. I think it’s important for kids to learn how to interact with one another and problem solve without parents doing these things for them. I also let them climb up the slide-it’s actually great for gross motor skills. That being said, I watch them. If they’re being super obnoxious, I’ll tell them to stop or take turns. But 99% of stuff they have to figure out on their own. If they can’t do any of the equipment, i rarely help them-this way they learn to do it independently within their abilities.
It’s scary to see them fall though. My son was climbing up a ladde today, and i stayed next to him the first 4-5 times to make sure he could do it. I then let him be while i pushed the baby around (yes, still watching), and on his 15th or so time up the ladder he fell about 6 feet. Thankfully he was fine and kept playing, but it was the same thing-on his back/head.
I get it’s great motor skills but I think the risk of safety for themselves and other children outweighs the use of climbing a slide for gross motor development. And yes I agree I can’t always be there and problem solving is crucial, but my children turn 2, 3 weeks ago. They can barely get through a day problem solving how to share together without someone crying, someone hitting etc, and I help them navigate that every day in how to handle. I can’t expect them to mitigate a slide issue with a 5 year old when they just turned 2 and have no idea why a child is climbing a slide... they don’t have the understanding yet, from their view they are getting ready to go down a slide and see someone bigger charging up a slide toward them and naturally get frightened and upset.
Of course, and this woman was kind of an ass about it. But what if she wasn’t on her phone, but looked away bc she was helping her 2yo put his shoe back on, or getting him into a swing? Things happen unfortunately.
When you have two 5yo running around your child will cause another kid to get hurt. And you’ll be properly mortified I’m sure, but we have to give our kids freedom.
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| Posted 2/5/19 9:10 AM |
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Katareen
5,000 Posts!
Member since 4/10 7180 total posts
Name:
Katherine
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Climbing up the slide...
Also when my kids were little I researched playgrounds in my area. There are probably a ton of little ones you don’t even know about!
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| Posted 2/5/19 9:18 AM |
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blu6385
Member since 5/08 8351 total posts
Name:
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
i do not let my kids climb up slides. I fell doing that once hit my mouth on the slide and chipped my adult front tooth!!! so for that reason alone i do not allow it.
plus i find it obnoxious for kids to be running up a slide when kids are trying to go down it!
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| Posted 2/5/19 9:23 AM |
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b2b777
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 4474 total posts
Name:
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
Posted by LiveForMoments
Posted by alli3131
I completely get you are upset that your child got hurt and we’ve all been there but I can almost guarantee that your kid will be the one run to up the slide. They all do it. And while you can try and stop it you will have you back turned for 10 seconds and it will happen. So be prepared to be that mom you screamed at. You might not be on your phone but things happen
I have to agree with this.
I am so sorry you're child got hurt, I sincerely hope he is ok. I can't imagine how scared you were.
Being a parent of a 4/5 year is different than being a parent of a 2 year old. You're coming off like "my kid would NEVER do that" or you would do better as a mom than this lady when you haven't been there.
For a 2 year old, you hover, for a 4 year old, they need freedom. I've been that mom on the phone, most likely getting work done, but still watching. I personally would have stepped in and took that as a teachable moment for the children to be more aware of people around them. If someone is on a slide, going up or down, you wait. It's that simple. Kids are kids though, and that why I hated the playground when my kids were little. Because even if other kids were unsafe, it was still 100% on me to keep my children safe - not twins, but multiple children that needed help.
My kids climb up the slides, up the fire poles, up the side of the playground, but for the most part they do it when no one else is using the equipment.
I have a strong never say never and never judge policy in parenting.
I agree as well. I go to a park that has a gate that closes. When im in this area with my 2 and 5 year olds I am watching both but my 2 year old needs me to hover. If my 5 year old runs around goes up a slide, up a pole, near another child etc i might not always see it. I agree that down the line you will probably experience having a 5 year old differently. Ive always been the helicopter mom saying no dont do that, dont go there, dont touch that - it is easier when they are younger trust me. It is our instinct to protect our kids and also to judge and want to blame, but unfortunately not everyone is always going to see things our way.
I totally understand how scary this was. My now 5 year old fell off the side of a playground when he was 4. He went down like a ton of bricks. My 1 year old was in my arms and I had to had him off to another mom i didnt even know so i could take care of the 4 year old. Thankfully all the moms around ran over and helped until we knew the 4 year old was okay.
Sorry this other mom wasnt so nice. i will not judge your reaction but i also will not judge her for letting her son up the slide.
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| Posted 2/5/19 10:26 AM |
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MrsO
Big Brothers to Be
Member since 1/07 4521 total posts
Name:
Maureen
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
I am so sorry your poor son. Hopefully you both aren't traumatized.
Regarding running up the slide - I keep an eye on my kids and if I see kids going down the slide I tell them no more climbing up the slide and use it properly.
I would feel horrified if one of my kids scared another kid and he fell. I know accidents happen but the other mom was out of line in her reaction to you.
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| Posted 2/5/19 10:45 AM |
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Jacquelina
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/11 767 total posts
Name:
Jacqueline
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
Posted by b2b777
Posted by LiveForMoments
Posted by alli3131
I completely get you are upset that your child got hurt and we’ve all been there but I can almost guarantee that your kid will be the one run to up the slide. They all do it. And while you can try and stop it you will have you back turned for 10 seconds and it will happen. So be prepared to be that mom you screamed at. You might not be on your phone but things happen
I have to agree with this.
I am so sorry you're child got hurt, I sincerely hope he is ok. I can't imagine how scared you were.
Being a parent of a 4/5 year is different than being a parent of a 2 year old. You're coming off like "my kid would NEVER do that" or you would do better as a mom than this lady when you haven't been there.
For a 2 year old, you hover, for a 4 year old, they need freedom. I've been that mom on the phone, most likely getting work done, but still watching. I personally would have stepped in and took that as a teachable moment for the children to be more aware of people around them. If someone is on a slide, going up or down, you wait. It's that simple. Kids are kids though, and that why I hated the playground when my kids were little. Because even if other kids were unsafe, it was still 100% on me to keep my children safe - not twins, but multiple children that needed help.
My kids climb up the slides, up the fire poles, up the side of the playground, but for the most part they do it when no one else is using the equipment.
I have a strong never say never and never judge policy in parenting.
I agree as well. I go to a park that has a gate that closes. When im in this area with my 2 and 5 year olds I am watching both but my 2 year old needs me to hover. If my 5 year old runs around goes up a slide, up a pole, near another child etc i might not always see it. I agree that down the line you will probably experience having a 5 year old differently. Ive always been the helicopter mom saying no dont do that, dont go there, dont touch that - it is easier when they are younger trust me. It is our instinct to protect our kids and also to judge and want to blame, but unfortunately not everyone is always going to see things our way.
I totally understand how scary this was. My now 5 year old fell off the side of a playground when he was 4. He went down like a ton of bricks. My 1 year old was in my arms and I had to had him off to another mom i didnt even know so i could take care of the 4 year old. Thankfully all the moms around ran over and helped until we knew the 4 year old was okay.
Sorry this other mom wasnt so nice. i will not judge your reaction but i also will not judge her for letting her son up the slide.
I tend to agree with both these posters. Being that I have both a 5 year old and a 2 year old...I have to constantly hover over the 2 year old while my 5 year old is running around and not always within my line of sight. That being said, her reaction was rude - if I did see my 5 year old being careless around smaller children or any other child for that matter, I would step in immediately and apologize to the other parent and make my son apologize as well. Kids will be kids - you will see once your kids get older. You do your best but things happen. I also try to not judge others on parenting - there are exceptions of course...but you never know what someone is going through...and parenting is hard and we are not always 100% perfect all the time.
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| Posted 2/5/19 10:56 AM |
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lululu
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 9511 total posts
Name:
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Re: Climbing up the slide...
I'm sorry but I actually think that you are in the wrong here. To go up and start screaming at a mom for not stopping her 5 year old from running up the slide at a playground is completely inappropriate. And even if I was in the wrong, if some woman came up to me and started screaming profanities on the playground I would think she was absolutely insane.
I understand that you were upset but you have mentioned numerous times that it's hard for you to keep an eye on both your kids - that is not the other mom's problem nor is it her responsibility. If her child came over and deliberately pushed your child off the steps of the slide that would be one thing, but this was an accident. I really don't mean to sound that harsh but you do remind me a little of myself when my kids were younger - I remember hating the older (5 and up) kids running around the playground like maniacs. And then guess what? My kids turned into those older kids.
If you are that concerned about your child getting hurt by the older ones I would only take them to the park earlier in the day (9-12) on weekdays when the pre-K kids are all in school.
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| Posted 2/5/19 11:02 AM |
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