Comments on: Exploring Her World

By: Teresa

Teresa — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:56:25 +0000

Oh my goodness!! What is that mother thinking!! Yes normal develop is playing with containers kids love to play with pots. But a garbage can!!! I am not a germ freak and this grosses me out. Garbage just grosses me out. And should gross that mother out. What if she had gotten hold a some kids poopie diaper. She would be spreading ecoli all around.This mother needs some training in what is appropriate

I am total freak about garbage because once (and I can’t believe I am admitting this) but I threw my filofax out by accident and had to go into the garbage of my building to get it. yes it was on the top but still gross.

Tee

By: Deathstar

Deathstar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:18:32 +0000

My mum taught her daughters to hover over toilet seats or at least wrap them up in toilet paper. I’m not too crazy about dirt and germs, so playing in a garbage can is pretty nasty to me and I would likely pull any child I see away from one. But let’s face it, a daycare is often loaded with germs and viruses so her chances of getting ill would most likely come from a toy and not the garbage. I have a dog so I’m not too uptight, but you know I’m well stocked with lint sheet rollers and vacuum and sweep every day. A friend of ours once put his new baby in the path of my dog’s tongue because as his biology background taught him, children who don’t avoid household germs have better immune systems. My West Indian mum would have been horrified.

By: sherri

sherri — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:10:24 +0000

It is probably more to do with how you were raised than a “cultural” thing, but overalll, I’d generalize that Black people tend to be less laid back when it comes to the behavior of small children. I think we(AA community) tend to be more uptight in many areas.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:06:49 +0000

Hi, I found you through another blog a while back and have checked back in periodically.

I am a white woman with 3 kids and I am disgusted that someone would think that it’s okay to reach into a garbage can on purpose. Who knows whats in there beside “innocent” garbage thats just gross. There could be something truely dangerous in there. I am a self proclaimed “germ freak” and have had several arguements with my MIL about what she CAN and CAN NOT let my kids do. My 5 year old knows the rules and tattles on Gramma if she tries to make her break the rules. In fact at Kindergarten teh other day my daughter accidently threw a cloth in the garbage(it was used to wipe the tables before and after snack time) instea of putting it on the counter. She told the teacher and she said “well you’ll have to reach in and get it” and my daughter politely said “I’m not allowed to reach into the garbage” I was so proud of her. Not for disobeying the teacher, but for following my rules. Its good to know when she isn’t with me and someone in authority is telling her to do something she still knows right from wrong!!

I am all for my child exploring her world. But as a parent you have to limit the size of their world according to thier age and what they are ready for. we don’t let children drive…they aren’t ready. So we have to teach them what is safe and okay before they understand it. If we don’t teach boundaries they’ll never learn. To be honest…that “exploring her world” sounds like a cope out on good parenting…

I don’t think its a racial thing at all. I think its how you were raised. My mom was a NICU nurse and knew germs were out there. My husbands mother was a teen parent and one of 8 daughters so her mom probably didn’t have time to think about teaching common sense. I’ve seen black people doing things that make me cringe, jewish people that make my mind boggle at their stupidity and white people that make me gag. Sadly disgusting people exist in all races.

By: avonlea

avonlea — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:44:23 +0000

YUCK!

“Exploring her world” that’s absurd. I hate indulgent parents who think they’re so great for not giving their kids limits. Kids need limits and trash should be off limits for the reasons you state.

By: Michele M.

Michele M. — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:57:33 +0000

Ick! As a WASP who is a fastidious potty coverer, shower shoe wearer and handwasher, I also would FREAK if Ethan tried to play in a trashcan. It’s interesting, though.

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:00:00 +0000

This white Jewish girl is gagging on playing in a trash can.

While I wouldn’t freak out if Dylan tried to get into a trash can (that to me is exploring) I wouldn’t allow it to continue.

If her daughter was reaching up to a hot stove – would she allow it to continue under the guise of “exploring her surroundings”?

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:55:53 +0000

This post made me smile. I am white and when I went off to college I was tipped off by my black roommate to the widely-held belief that “white people are not personally fastidious.” And, I would have to concede that I was not nearly as personally fastidious as my roommate. Still, my three year old is corrected when he gets too near the trash, never mind touches it! Gross!

By: roni

roni — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:00:43 +0000

I’m white, I’m Jewish, but my parents were as laid back regarding dirt as any parents could be. And even so, if we went near a trash can my mother would freak. And as a mother – and just as an individual – I wash my hands constantly and make sure that Eddie stays as far away from trash and other locals with known germs (bathrooms, etc) as possible. I also carry wipes everywhere and clean his hands regularly – it’s not paranoia, it’s good hygene and keeps him from getting sick more often. He can play in dirt to a certain extent – there’s no way to avoid it anyway if he’s going to be outside at all – but playing in a trash can? That’s just downright negligent on the mother’s part.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:14:25 +0000

Ewww!! I STILL have to tell my 8 year old not to touch EVERYTHING he passes, including trash can lids!

Yes, gross, I dont think at all related to race, letting ones kid play in the trash is just weird

Catherine