Not a parent but I read this and have my personal opinions, curious what others think about it.
I understand the thought process and agree to a point - kids are definitely on too tight of leashes these days.
That said, everything I read in that article tells me that the author is a fucking horrible parent and I wouldn’t want to ever be in 1000 feet of her demons.
Yes, your kids should have some freedom. No, they shouldn’t actively be bothering everyone around them every moment they’re out of the house. Teach them respect and kindness, too.
The author admits to have let their kids, who are 2yo and 4yo roam free in restaurants to the point they have ended up in the kitchen, that right there tells you how responsible of a parent she is and how good of an approach hers is.
That’s wild lol, I’d be way too embarrassed.
Do people not have the experience of peeking into the restaurant kitchen growing up?
One year I was on an elementary school trip at this restaurant that did a little historical show along with the meal, with a lot of crowd interaction, and I got caught up in acting out my role and went into the kitchen at which point I was immediately told that was off-limits, and I never did it again.
Not the same thing as letting a 2-year-old into a kitchen though. But I definitely explored and learned what was appropriate and what wasn’t as I grew up.
Yes, I did stuff like this when I was a kid, everybody does, but no, I wasn’t actively encouraged to do so, au contraire, my parents always taught me how to behave in public and I’m grateful for it. Kids will become adults one day, if they are never taught how to behave they’ll probably end up being entitled pricks that think they can do whatever they want whenever they want.
I don’t think everybody does anymore. Some parents keep their kids so sheltered now they don’t know how to do anything independently.
I hate to sound like an old person with my “people these days rant”, but it’s just people being inconsiderate, and it’s everywhere. People stand in doorways and elevators, make people behind them on the road wait while they turn from the wrong lane, cut in lines, run red lights because they don’t want to wait, etc.
This is simply people being selfish and not wanting to parent, there’s no difference. There are places where kids can run wild and be themselves, but it’s not literally everywhere. Remember that the end goal is to raise not a child, but an empathetic, functioning member of society. So start teaching them early…
Fine, but don’t get mad when I laugh at them tripping and falling.