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Karen Alpert from Baby Sideburns shares the time her kid was pushing around another kid in the playground and her reaction when another parent stepped in to discipline.

In a recent blog post Karen who writes for Baby Sideburns shared…

“I know I should have been there when this all went down, but unfortunately I was on the other side of the playground with my son’s friend who was crying,” she writes. “So no, I wasn’t there, but does that give you a right to discipline my kiddo? Does that give you the right to talk to him sternly and tell him to knock it off? Does that give you the right to act like you are the person in charge when he is actually MY child?”

“Ummmm, yes. YES IT DOES.”

Karen continues…

“If my kid is acting like a douchenugget and I’m not around for whatever reason, you have my permission to tell him to knock that sh*t off,” she says. “I’m not saying you have the right to touch him in any way or yell at him uncontrollably (only I’m allowed to do that), but please feel free to tell him to stop being a jerkwad if he’s not waiting his turn to do the monkey bars.”

Karen is a strong believer in it takes a village to raise a family.

Go Karen! We love her response.

What would your reaction have been?

Share your comments below.

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  • Thanks goodness, I’m glad there was a twist with this story. Usually it’s all about don’t discipline my child because he’s my child etc etc. And I agree with her, no-one has the right to yell at other kids or touch them but I agree that another adult telling them off for something warranted is how we all used to be raised. It encourages kids not to be entitled so and sos, it means they learn to listen to authority and it also gives them a dose of healthy respect for their elders. Good on this mum!

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  • I will dicipline a child if I witness that child lay a hand on my child. I will lay a hand on a child only if Ihave to intervene in violence to my child. I also permit my child to defend her self from others hurting her.

    I have had several run ins at shopping centres of late which kids have pushed my child down the slippery dip backwards, a boy barged my daughter & another little girl pushed my child off a play area my child came to me twice to tell me so the third i decided to get up & watch for myself. As i walked to the area the child right in front of me pushed at someone else’s child so I pipped up “who owns this child” well the mother not watching comes to tell me that is so rude of me to say that. Well I am sorry I will defend my child & intervene where I see necessary. I will never hit or grab aggressively but my words may be strong as I wantvthe child to know that behaviour is not acceptable.

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  • Just do it kindly and not aggressively.

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  • I’d be completely happy for someone to tell my children if they’re doing something inapropriate, inconsiderate, disrespectful or harmful. Same as I would tell a child if they were direspecting or hurting my children or the playground itself. Doesn’t mean I agree with someone touching them, just a gentle word to remind them the behaviour is not ok.

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  • Hey feel free to. To be the parent. But remember while telling my kid off you get to take him ,her home pay the bills feed them cloth them education is top one pay that also .., okay .. No you do not want that. .. So shut up .. Ask where is your mummy . Then speak to me .. If my kid is being a little turd I will tell her off. No you .. Not your job .. Oh buy the way how about you have a cover over your pram due to it being cold and a female strange in a coffeee shop wants a look removes the cover .. Omg I nearly had a kitten .. Wtf is that all about .then want to touch baby that has issues . Omg people are so rude .then call you up tight … Get over it .., I love the parents that take the child to the bathroom in the shopping malls but do not wash the child’s hands .. Oh yeah then tell you your child should be toilet trained without knowing anything about your child .. Well my answer one day was to say piss off .. I was in the parents room changing miss nearly five .who is full incontinent due to medical issues no fault of hers at all .. And get told she should be trained .. Hello do you pay the bills ..no mind your own business .. Woman cannot keep there mouths closed over it .. You have no rights to comment on other people children none …

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  • I totally agree.

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  • I wouldn’t discipline but sure would say something when any child hurts, bullies or annoys another child (same for adults btw).

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  • I agree and would be happy for someone to tell off my child if they are doing the wrong thing. I think society has gone down hill and it puts our children at risk when people are too scared to get involved when something bad is about to happen.

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  • I love this, and I agree. I must admit I’ve told another child off when their actions and/or behaviour has presented safety issues for another child (any child, not just mine) and/or they’ve been unfair. It was just a reflex action and I did feel a little bad initially, but I got over it quickly enough.

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  • Agree fully with you Karen – its a pity more mothers don’t agree. It just might make that word respect one that is thought about yet once more and perhaps stop some of these gangs from happening.

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  • Thank goodness this post continued as it did!! As I read the first section I was thinking, “Yes, yes it does!” We are all in this together and it is great to see there taking on the ‘village’ approach.

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  • I wouldn’t mind, as long as it was handled properly


    • Agree! Handled properly is the key.

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  • With four kids my hands are always full and I totally agree with Karen’s response abd reasoning.

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  • Wow what a surprising response

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  • I love this! I feel the same way! It’s hard to keep an eye on 3 kids at once so I’d hope no one would let one of mine bully another kid.

    Reply

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