Day 134
17/09/09 10:16 Filed in: Diary
Would you offer help to another Mum, a stranger, who is struggling with her children? Or would you feel you were interfering too much?
Youngest was much slower walking to school this morning. She didn't meet any friends on the way so there was no incentive for her to run. She spent most of the time sat in the buggy. I think I need to ditch it soon. It looks wrong to me to see a child of a certain size and in a school uniform sat in a buggy. Maybe I am just paranoid?
When we arrived at school there was one mum sat waiting to go in with two boys. One was reception age and the other younger. The older one obviously didn't want to go into school. He was clinging onto his mum crying. She was doing her best to reassure him whilst dealing with his younger brother. I did feel sorry for her. The younger brother was oblivious to the drama and obviously believed he needed all of Mummy's attention. I was in a real dilemma as to whether I should offer to help. But what could I have done?
If the younger brother was as clingy to his mum as the older child he wouldn't have settled with me keeping an eye on him, and she then would have had two crying children. I am not sure I would accept a complete stranger keeping an eye on my child either. I know it seems wrong, and they say that the world is safer than its ever been. Should you be able to trust other parents who you have no connection with or knowledge of. Just because their children go to the same school? Is it just the media that hypes up the dangers for children. Or is the saying true that you can never be too careful?
Could I have offered to help with the older child? If he didn't want to leave his mum to go into school he certainly wouldn't leave her to go with me to the doors. I tried to sympathise with the Mum but I couldn't even offer any practical advice because I have been lucky with my girls. Both of them went into school with no problems, not even a backward glance.
She also may have thought I was sticking my nose in. Lots of parents don't want others to think they need help. They want to appear confident, assured and in control. Regardless of how they actually feel. So I just left and felt bad on the walk home, constantly questioning my actions and whether I could have done something to help.
What would you have done? Have you been in a similar situation?
When we arrived at school there was one mum sat waiting to go in with two boys. One was reception age and the other younger. The older one obviously didn't want to go into school. He was clinging onto his mum crying. She was doing her best to reassure him whilst dealing with his younger brother. I did feel sorry for her. The younger brother was oblivious to the drama and obviously believed he needed all of Mummy's attention. I was in a real dilemma as to whether I should offer to help. But what could I have done?
If the younger brother was as clingy to his mum as the older child he wouldn't have settled with me keeping an eye on him, and she then would have had two crying children. I am not sure I would accept a complete stranger keeping an eye on my child either. I know it seems wrong, and they say that the world is safer than its ever been. Should you be able to trust other parents who you have no connection with or knowledge of. Just because their children go to the same school? Is it just the media that hypes up the dangers for children. Or is the saying true that you can never be too careful?
Could I have offered to help with the older child? If he didn't want to leave his mum to go into school he certainly wouldn't leave her to go with me to the doors. I tried to sympathise with the Mum but I couldn't even offer any practical advice because I have been lucky with my girls. Both of them went into school with no problems, not even a backward glance.
She also may have thought I was sticking my nose in. Lots of parents don't want others to think they need help. They want to appear confident, assured and in control. Regardless of how they actually feel. So I just left and felt bad on the walk home, constantly questioning my actions and whether I could have done something to help.
What would you have done? Have you been in a similar situation?
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