I almost forgot to post this story. Earlier in the week, my wife and I brought Baby Carter to the pediatrician for a scheduled check-up. This was my first trip to a pediatrician office since I was a young boy. As soon as we walked in, I immediately noticed not one but two waiting rooms; one labeled "sick" kids and one for "well" kids. Makes sense I guess. Nevertheless, we headed into the "well" room since Disney's Madagascar was playing on the flat screen television. My wife, Baby Carter, and I sat on the very far end of the room hoping to keep the other families from waking the rarely sleeping Baby Carter. At some point, a woman and her 5-6 year old daughter came into the waiting room and sat down across from us. The little burnet-haired well-spoken girl was playing with a few of the waiting room toys and puzzles when her mother caught her peeking up at Madagascar on the television. The scene was a very catchy song and dance that would grab most kids attention (to include mine).
The mother snapped at her daughter, "Do not look at that television!"
My wife and I looked at each other in awe. I whispered to my wife, "Wow, so is that considered good parenting-not allowing your kid to watch television? If so, we might be in trouble! We attended some great colleges and hold multiple graduate level degrees and I watched a ton of television as a child! She can't be for real!"
About 5 minutes later, the little girl became bored of the toys and puzzles so the mother broke out a homemade "opposites" game where she makes a statement and the answer is the opposite of that statement.
The first riddle was "The sun is to day as the moon is to _____?"
The girl enthusiastically answered "NIGHT!"
The mother continued with "When you throw the ball up, then it must come ____?"
The little girl hesitated a moment and answered "When you throw the ball up...?"
The mother repeated the riddle two more times before the little girl's lightbulb went off. "IT MUST COME DOWN!"
The little girl was so excited about finally getting the answer correct she continued with "Wow, mommy! I am so smart aren't I?!"
I will never forget the mother's response to her beautiful and bright young daughter, "I don't know about that, it took you way too long to get that one!"
The little girl lowered her head in defeat just as they were called into the doctors office. The sad part was she was completely serious! Are you kidding me! Her daughter just asked her for some motherly love and reassurance and she completely shut her down! I am new to the whole parenting thing, but I know she was way out of line to discredit her daughter like that! If the latest edition of Parenting magazine my wife was browsing was within arms reach, I probably would have thrown it at the back of the mother's head! Will someone please let me know if they agree with this parenting style? If so, you are in serious need of love and affection!
The mother snapped at her daughter, "Do not look at that television!"
My wife and I looked at each other in awe. I whispered to my wife, "Wow, so is that considered good parenting-not allowing your kid to watch television? If so, we might be in trouble! We attended some great colleges and hold multiple graduate level degrees and I watched a ton of television as a child! She can't be for real!"
About 5 minutes later, the little girl became bored of the toys and puzzles so the mother broke out a homemade "opposites" game where she makes a statement and the answer is the opposite of that statement.
The first riddle was "The sun is to day as the moon is to _____?"
The girl enthusiastically answered "NIGHT!"
The mother continued with "When you throw the ball up, then it must come ____?"
The little girl hesitated a moment and answered "When you throw the ball up...?"
The mother repeated the riddle two more times before the little girl's lightbulb went off. "IT MUST COME DOWN!"
The little girl was so excited about finally getting the answer correct she continued with "Wow, mommy! I am so smart aren't I?!"
I will never forget the mother's response to her beautiful and bright young daughter, "I don't know about that, it took you way too long to get that one!"
The little girl lowered her head in defeat just as they were called into the doctors office. The sad part was she was completely serious! Are you kidding me! Her daughter just asked her for some motherly love and reassurance and she completely shut her down! I am new to the whole parenting thing, but I know she was way out of line to discredit her daughter like that! If the latest edition of Parenting magazine my wife was browsing was within arms reach, I probably would have thrown it at the back of the mother's head! Will someone please let me know if they agree with this parenting style? If so, you are in serious need of love and affection!
Being a mom of four already with another two on the way, I say horrible parenting. We all make mistakes that's just part of the whole parenting thing, but that takes it to a whole new level. Emotional abuse is what comes to mind for me.
ReplyDeleteThat makes me feel so sad for that little girl. I hope she has a father, grandmother, aunt, or uncle who can counteract some of the effects of that kind of parenting.
ReplyDelete