Barefoot child at Wal-Mart

[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]

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.

[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.

[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.