As a mom of three young kids in this era of hyper parenting, I've recognized two categories of parents at public playgrounds/play places.1) There are the parents who believe that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should ANYONE, ANYWHERE dare to EVER, E-V-E-R go up a slide, slides are ONLY for going DOWN on.
2) Then there's everyone else, who fit somewhere on a sliding scale of reasonability.
Our rules on this matter are that we only allow slide-going-upping if no one else is on it, waiting to go down. We understand that slide-going-downers have priority. It's happened in a few instances where my children are happily climbing UP a slide, as that first category of parents loudly proclaim to their children, with voices aimed in our direction, that slides are ONLY FOR GOING DOWN ON. Then they have given us the hairy eyeballs; for not following their rules, and for demonstrating to their over-controlled children that SOMETIMES their parent's rules are not absolutes.
Thankfully it seems that in most places we frequent, we encounter the second category of parents, and it's simply a matter of finding our mutually reasonable solution if we need to step in and help the kids to play safely and kindly.
I was inspired to write this by Dani's "Parents That I Can't Stand Series". Hers is a hoot because I figure most of us fit in there somewhere, I found myself in there as the Burnout Mom. Don't go in there if you're feeling easily offended, but otherwise, she has 6 KIDS and a great sense of snarky humor.
Any of you get the hairy eyeball at the playgrounds for anything like this? Or, are you a firm believer that no one should ever EVER go UP a slide?
Hey Rachel--I'm glad I decided to check in on your blog since Ovu is down. :) I'm with you--let's be reasonable here! I too let my children go up the slides, why impose so many dang rules on the children?! I will check out that blog. :)
ReplyDeleteI once encountered one of those Moms, before Noah was interested in slides. Then... when the time came, I became one of those moms. Seriously. Constantly redirecting him to go 'the right way'. I was so worried about offending others. Then one day when I was only half paying attention, Noah enjoyed a wipe-out. He loved it, and so did the other kid.
ReplyDeleteNow, yrs later... I let Bella do whatever, as long as she isn't hurting anyone. They manage to figure it out on their own anyway. Kids don't care... they just want to let lose and play!
I"m very much on the let the child go UP side of things. In most ways. Thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteoh boy cachet and eva, I hope her blog didn;t traumatize you both, you're both kinda nice ladies for that place.
ReplyDeletecachet, I'm stoked that you have a blog! I'm a bit behind in my blog readings but I've added you to my folder of blogs to link to and follow, it's lovely!
eva - I was suprised that this post didn;'t get more comments, and I suspect that it's because lots of my readers are moms that don't let their kids go up slides, I hope I haven't offended most of my readers :p
so i admit that blog is a bit 'raw' for me... i;m ok though. :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteWe get that hairy eyeball all the time. We follow the same rule as you BUT my oldest was made to go up slides, climb up chain link fences, scale over the tops of play structures, those types of things. We do try to keep him in check but . . .
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those who thinks going UP a slide is just as legitimate as going DOWN a slide, with the rules in both cases to look to make sure someone else isn't attempting to go the other way. I have fun with those "hairy eyeballs" because I wonder if they know just how uptight they seem (and how totally uncool to all the other kids, lol).
ReplyDeletecachet, I'm glad you survived that place, lol! I find her writing a bit funny, but I get offended over there too, offended while laughing.
ReplyDeleteGreen Bean, I love green phone booth, I just went there after clicking your profile to your inactive blog to GPB to check it out. It's always nice to hear about other active rowdy kids too :)
freelearners - I do have fun with the hairy eyeballs in some instances, particularly on the mega ferries from Victoria to Vancouver. The akward part is when they're being clear with hostile body language and in the way they speak to us by lecturing their children extra loudly that they expect me to go along with them. MY refusal to go with their uptight version of playground rules seems to really piss them off at times, here they are telling their kids that no one should ever under any circumstances go up any slide, while my kids gleefully do it right before their kids eyes!
I love this post!! thanks for the chuckle... of course, my kids go UP slides.. I've often wondered why the uptight parents can't seem to get the 'down gets priority' rule and just let the kids figure it out. My son - now 18- actually prefers climbing up the outside of those tube slides, which doesn't hurt anyone, but terrifies some parents. heehee- you brought back lots of memories.. thanks!
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