Thinking.
Today, my husband, my son and I attended a cranberry festival! It was a really nice day that we very much enjoyed.
Going to such events always gives me an opportunity to observe other parents. I like to people watch and I have always admitted this. I enjoy seeing how other people act. what they say and what they do. I like people!
Events like todays always bring out many different types of parents and kids...well, lots of different kinds of people in general.
As much as I notice the nice things, the cute things and the things that warm my heart... I also very much notice the negative things. The things that make me cringe and make me take mental note of exactly what I never want to be.
Some notable things from today and my thoughts on them:
1. A mom & dad with 2 daughters on leashes. Okay, they were each wearing a backpack harness but I always think 'leash' when I see parents using these with kids. I have to admit that (I think) a harness was used on me when I was little because I would dart out into the middle of the road. Now while I completely see the need for safety, I always think there is an age where these types of harness should not be used. The 2 girls in todays scenario where WAY to old to be wearing these and they were perfectly behaved girls! These parents also decided to sit on the concrete next to the food booth instead of walking to a picnic table. They were really out of place and it just looked odd, as the picnic tables were RIGHT there...yet they chose to sit on the ground.
2. A father using an extremely harsh tone of voice with his daughter when she wanted to sit in the stroller while he pushed it. His reasoning for not letting her: because it would be too hard for him to push. I can understand his frustration as it is very difficult to push a stroller on grass and uneven terrain... but why have the stroller if the kids can't sit in it?!
3. People smoking in line while tons of little kids are around. This makes me CRAZY! If you want to smoke, that is fine, but DO NOT do it near kids. Remove yourself, go to a seperate area, go to the smoking area, what have you and smoke away from the babies.
4. A mom holding child #1 while the dad pushing a double stroller with child #2 and #3 follows behind with child #2 having a full out tantrum and they are ignoring it. Granted, I do not have 3 children and I do not have a child that it of tantrum age yet... but to me, I would address the screaming flailing child!
5. The amount of pregnant women who had 3+ kids already was INSANE to me. As we were sitting at a picnic table here comes a dad with 1...2....3...4 daughters behind him and a pregnant wife bringing up the rear. I was like: whoaa. 4 kids and you're having a 5th?! To each their own but I feel complete with one baby. I feel like handling my one child is enough for me...nevermind 5!
So those are my thoughts for the day. It is always interesting to people watch and see other parents in action. A heartwarming moment to close out the day: While grocery shopping there was an older brother with his little sister and they are shopping for sundae toppings when they run past us to the whipped cream. The little boy leans over to the little girl and says "what kind do you want, creamy or EXTRA creamy?!"...and they look at each other, give each other a little look and a nod and sing "EXTRA CREAMY" in harmony! It was just too cute!!! <3
Going to such events always gives me an opportunity to observe other parents. I like to people watch and I have always admitted this. I enjoy seeing how other people act. what they say and what they do. I like people!
Events like todays always bring out many different types of parents and kids...well, lots of different kinds of people in general.
As much as I notice the nice things, the cute things and the things that warm my heart... I also very much notice the negative things. The things that make me cringe and make me take mental note of exactly what I never want to be.
Some notable things from today and my thoughts on them:
1. A mom & dad with 2 daughters on leashes. Okay, they were each wearing a backpack harness but I always think 'leash' when I see parents using these with kids. I have to admit that (I think) a harness was used on me when I was little because I would dart out into the middle of the road. Now while I completely see the need for safety, I always think there is an age where these types of harness should not be used. The 2 girls in todays scenario where WAY to old to be wearing these and they were perfectly behaved girls! These parents also decided to sit on the concrete next to the food booth instead of walking to a picnic table. They were really out of place and it just looked odd, as the picnic tables were RIGHT there...yet they chose to sit on the ground.
2. A father using an extremely harsh tone of voice with his daughter when she wanted to sit in the stroller while he pushed it. His reasoning for not letting her: because it would be too hard for him to push. I can understand his frustration as it is very difficult to push a stroller on grass and uneven terrain... but why have the stroller if the kids can't sit in it?!
3. People smoking in line while tons of little kids are around. This makes me CRAZY! If you want to smoke, that is fine, but DO NOT do it near kids. Remove yourself, go to a seperate area, go to the smoking area, what have you and smoke away from the babies.
4. A mom holding child #1 while the dad pushing a double stroller with child #2 and #3 follows behind with child #2 having a full out tantrum and they are ignoring it. Granted, I do not have 3 children and I do not have a child that it of tantrum age yet... but to me, I would address the screaming flailing child!
5. The amount of pregnant women who had 3+ kids already was INSANE to me. As we were sitting at a picnic table here comes a dad with 1...2....3...4 daughters behind him and a pregnant wife bringing up the rear. I was like: whoaa. 4 kids and you're having a 5th?! To each their own but I feel complete with one baby. I feel like handling my one child is enough for me...nevermind 5!
So those are my thoughts for the day. It is always interesting to people watch and see other parents in action. A heartwarming moment to close out the day: While grocery shopping there was an older brother with his little sister and they are shopping for sundae toppings when they run past us to the whipped cream. The little boy leans over to the little girl and says "what kind do you want, creamy or EXTRA creamy?!"...and they look at each other, give each other a little look and a nod and sing "EXTRA CREAMY" in harmony! It was just too cute!!! <3
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