Barefoot child at Wal-Mart

[Lady's Human]

The church is supported by tax dollars? Damn, didn't know that.

When the village becomes a bunch of nattering busybodies, they can , quite frankly, kiss my posterior and exit, stage left.

[lizbud]

Excuse what I am about to say, but this is a ridiculous statement (2 actually!) if I ever heard one. I didn't see one person here, claim to be a perfect parent, and no one is saying that you and your wife don't know how to raise children. This whole issue has been blown totally out of proportion. Most just feel that letting children go barefoot in a less than even somewhat clean environment, is potentially asking for trouble. That's their opinion, and no one is trying to force their views down anyone else's throat. I think that we share the opinion, that it isn't worth the risk of injury or infection, when even just a simple pair of flip-flops or crocs, could reduce it to practically nothing. But we are all free to do as we see fit, and we should - and will - carry on as such.

Seems LH is taking this subject a bit too personally & he feels a need
to defend his choices as a parent. That's his problem, not anyone elses.
Maybe his town is a "Mayberry, USA" with old dirt roads that lead to the
favorite fishing hole at the end of the lane. It certainly isn't a modern
"big city" with mega stores & parking lots that I'm thinking of.

I hope no one is eating breakfast but, have you ever seen somebody
blow their nose outside without benefit of kleenex? chew & spit tobacco
out on the ground? Cough & hack and proceed to let fly with what ever
they bring up from their lungs? Geeze.

Let my small child walk barefoot through all that & more? No thanks.

and for those who think putting shoes on a child who doesn't want to wear
them is just too much of a hassle, just wait a few years, things can get a
whole lot tougher for parents to make the right decisons & carry them out
when the child gets a little older. Just saying.

[pomtzu]

I didn't see one person here, claim to be a perfect parent, and no one is saying that you and your wife don't know how to raise children.
Most just feel that letting children go barefoot in a less than even somewhat clean environment, is potentially asking for trouble. That's their opinion, and no one is trying to force their views down anyone else's throat.

LH - I think you missed this part...too bad, since it has validity.
AMEN! and I'm done. Have a wonderful day!

[Bonny]

I do know churches are non profit & aren't part of the taxing system. But they are part of the system. They help cloth, feed, take care of the sick & needy.

LH, this is not an attack on you. What about opinions & learning? When you posted the pictures of your children in the garden they looked healthy, & happy. I am not attacking your personal parenting. Everyone has to deal with their situation in their own way. Gotta go to work & with be with all kinds of families today.

[Asiel]

Excuse what I am about to say, but this is a ridiculous statement (2 actually!) if I ever heard one. I didn't see one person here, claim to be a perfect parent, and no one is saying that you and your wife don't know how to raise children. This whole issue has been blown totally out of proportion. Most just feel that letting children go barefoot in a less than even somewhat clean environment, is potentially asking for trouble. That's their opinion, and no one is trying to force their views down anyone else's throat. I think that we share the opinion, that it isn't worth the risk of injury or infection, when even just a simple pair of flip-flops or crocs, could reduce it to practically nothing. But we are all free to do as we see fit, and we should - and will - carry on as such.

Took the words right out of my mouth , couldn't have said it any better.

[Asiel]

Yep. Bubblewrap them and then be surprised when the world reaches out and slaps them with reality.

Sorry, I'm a firm believer in letting them learn from their actions.

Even if it means letting them step on a discarded used syringe? That's a hard lesson for an innocent child to learn through no fault of his own....

[Lady's Human]

I'm out.

Biddies and nannies, have at it, just leave parents alone unless there's a serious problem.

I don't take parenting advice from relatives, I'm damned sure not going to take it from a bunch of biddies on a forum.

By the way, in all the serious cases of child neglect you read about in the news, and wonder where CPS/DSS et al were?

Chasing down complaints from biddies who saw a child barefoot at wal-mart. They have to investigate all reports.

[Karen]

Okay, calm down folks. I do know that, even as a child, when I was barefoot, I paid more attention to where I was putting my feet. Don't you all? This was one incident, and frankly, the person who was lax was the "greeter" or the store staff, as I am sure there's a policy against people entering barefoot.

Yes, when a child is barefoot, he or she might step on something sharp and cut him or herself. I know I did, a sharp rock in a brook once "got" me. Did I live to grow up anyway? Yup, or none of you would have this forum to play in. And I don;t know about your Wal-Mart, but I have never, ever seen a discarded needle on the floor or mine. Or even in the parking lot. You don't know the circumstances, you really don't. If this child was permitted to walk barefoot through a drug-infested, crime-filled, unclean streets with broken glass and metal, that would be one thing. A store? Filthy, yes, but as dangerous? Not hardly.

And Lizbud, Lady's Human lives in a rural area, yes. They do, however, have malls and giant parking lots not too far away in town - they are still in America after all.

[lizbud]

I'm out.

Biddies and nannies, have at it, just leave parents alone unless there's a serious problem.

I don't take parenting advice from relatives, I'm damned sure not going to take it from a bunch of biddies on a forum.

Quote:

The trouble with being a parent is that by the time you are experienced, you are unemployed. ~Author Unknown

[Lady's Human]

The trouble with being a parent is that everyone in society knows how to do it better than you do, regardless of their experience.

Again, your personal experience applies not a whit to my children. They aren't your children, they don't live in your town, and don't go to your schools.

[lizbud]

Yes, when a child is barefoot, he or she might step on something sharp and cut him or herself. I know I did, a sharp rock in a brook once "got" me. Did I live to grow up anyway?

And Lizbud, Lady's Human lives in a rural area, yes. They do, however, have malls and giant parking lots not too far away in town - they are still in America after all.

I was running in a city park with sandals on & stepped on broken glass
which cut right through the sole of my sandal. It cut my foot badly & I didn't
even feel it. Only noticed a wetness & squishy feeling on my foot, untill I saw
the blood pouring out. You can be hurt even when you are doing whats
considered safe.

I memtioned Mayberry USA (fiction) as the only place I considered safe to go barefoot down a road. LH chose to make this subject all about him & his parenting style, nobody else did that Karen.

[cassiesmom]

I'm out.

Biddies and nannies, have at it, just leave parents alone unless there's a serious problem.

I don't take parenting advice from relatives, I'm damned sure not going to take it from a bunch of biddies on a forum.

By the way, in all the serious cases of child neglect you read about in the news, and wonder where CPS/DSS et al were?

Chasing down complaints from biddies who saw a child barefoot at wal-mart. They have to investigate all reports.

(banging head on desk) Okay, okay. I wasn't trying to offer parenting advice. It was just an observation. And LH, I am definitely not a biddy! Can we just agree to disagree? I'm sorry I incited a controversy. Once again I apologize for having brought it up at all.

Thank you,
Elyse

[Daisy and Delilah]

How did we get to this point on this discussion? I am flabbergasted. I gave my opinion on something. That's all. I would never accuse anyone of being a bad parent unless I observed bad parenting firsthand.

LH, it's your choice to let your children do whatever you want your children to do. The same goes for me and everyone else. If I let my child eat candy it doesn't necessarily make me a bad parent. If I let my child drink soda it doesn't necessarily make me a bad parent, etc. etc.

We are merely having a discussion here. I believe anyone is entitled to not like to be barefooted and not want their children to be barefooted. Either choice doesn't necessarily make us a bad parent.

No one was calling anyone or accusing anyone of being a bad parent.

For the record....I am neither a biddy or a nanny either!! For heaven's sake. I don't think I've seen anything like this in all my years on this board. An innocent observation of strangers has turned into a name calling, accusatory melee. What next??

[Bonny]

Nasty things do happen at Wal Mart

We were waiting outside for some friends that were in Wal Mart shopping. We saw a guy take off his shoes & then his socks while sitting on a lawn mower display & trim his toe nails.

[Cataholic]

I don't see such a big deal regarding a child going barefoot, even in walmart. I haven't seen much dangerous materials at my big box stores.

Is it clean? I don't think so. Is it overly safe? Probably not. But it just doesn't rank up there in the top 10 sins of child rearing, in my book.

It is kind of funny, the discussion on sanitary issues...sure the childs foot gets dirty. Just like the shoe that is then worn into the house.

Like LH...I feel pretty comfortable with my parenting decisions. For people to fall out over this seems so minor in my book.