Choose Your Own Parenting Response
Remember those books about Choose Your Own Adventure where you decided how you would respond and then “turn to page 64 to see if the shark bites you”?
I’ve had several minor parenting conundrums (how do you spell that?) lately and thought I’d open up to my dear blog readers to see what you would suggest. For once in your life, I actually want your opinion! How fun is that?
So, I thought of you today when 9yo screamed and began writhing in pain. Here’s what happened:
1. Girls get out their sewing kit they got for Christmas and begin working on a project they’ve developed.
2. Girls get distracted and go eat a snack.
3. Intelligent Mom says don’t forget you left your sewing stuff on the living room floor! You better pick that up!
4. One hour later, 9yo screams and writhes. She’s stepped on a needle and it’s gone about half an inch into the ball of her foot.
5. I pulled it out. Gross. I’ve never felt a needle move through flesh before. This is why I’m not a doctor. Well, that and my inability to comprehend math and remember long lists of things.
What would you do? Do you give an “I told you so” lecture? Or just give her sympathy and tell her about the time you stapled your thumb? Do you take her to the doctor for any sort of shot? Should I be worried about the injury? Would you have pulled it out? Would you want Oberweis after a long day of parenting like I do, but won’t and then be sorta cranky and yet slightly proud that you didn’t give in?
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June 1st, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I tend to be an “learn from you mistakes” type of parent, though I wouldn’t give her the I told you so lecture, I would share the story of you stapling your thumb, it will give her a much needed giggle that you can share. I would make sure she is up on her tetanus shot though.
I have very cluzty boys. Once when the kiddo was stung by a bee, he required 10 stiches, why you ask would a bee sting take 10 stiches… he was jumping around so much he slamming into the cement and gashed his leg open. So you I have been in that situation many times.
good luck.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:54 pm
LOL, I should really give you some wise advice since my kids are older but alls I can do is laugh at how great you are at wording these type of posts.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:14 am
For me, this is ca-lassic lecture time. I definitely use the “i told you so” because seriously, i did. I also become very unsympathetic in situations like this, accidents that are avoidable by simply listening. Go ahead and get nasty diseases, see if I care.
Then I launch into how no one should be allowed to vote until age 30 and furthermore no one under the age of 18 should even be allowed to talk precisely because of how repeatedly stupid kids are with their inability to not listen to much wiser people.
This is classic child stupidity which needs to be reinfocred with as much derision and belittlment as possible. Of course, I’m a father and a father’s love is displayed much differently. My child would then run to their mother who would take them to the doctors while I promise to take their birthday money to pay for the doctor’s appointment. It’s all a good time and my wife and I will have a good chuckle before drifting off to sleep that night.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:15 am
Oh Kelli – they’ve turned out to be really great kids so far, you don’t need any advice.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:26 am
Jeff, – LOL. I save the lecture to the Lecture Master, Mr J. However, I tend to let the natural consequences do the hard work – a good ol’ tetanus shot at the doctors office speaks volumes.
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
So sorry 9yr old.
Kelli-I’m sure anything you did was the right thing for you and her. I would have probably taken out the needle,sooth the ache, wiped the tears, applied a band aid and ice pack to the owie, cuddled on the couch…and then say something wise like “Now I don’t have to tell you why we need to pick those things up, do I?”
If she is up to date on her shots, then she probable doesn’t need a tetnus shot, till going into fifth grade.
Eat chocolate anyway.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
NOW… I am not a mommy yet… I do teach 8yos daily… and crazy things like this happen all the time.
I would make sure that the kiddo knows that their lack of listening caused this accident to happen. I would have pulled the needle out… little ice and a band-aid…. keep an eye on it… make sure it doesnt turn green tomorrow.
I would TOTALLY tell them the story about the staple… you can add that KellY with a Y also did that… and was too embarassed to tell my teacher…. so my fingers were stuck together for about an hour until someone noticed and ratted me out. Its good to let them know that you are human too and that we are not perfect… the world doesn’t need more drama queens… ya live ya learn… laugh it off… ya know?!?! NOW… when I AM a mom… this might change to cuddling on the couch… booboo bunnies and kisses…. but either way… Chocolate cures all!
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:49 am
See, and this is why it scares me that KellY wants to bring children in to this world with me: I would have said something like “Are you going to clean this up next time? Did you learn from this?” and I would have done all this BEFORE pulling the needle out. KellY has her work cut out for her on training ME!
I wouldn’t really do this!