Being over protective

Well, I can't say that I would call that over protective...  You have 4 boys, I sincerely doubt that they are wrapped in cotton wool.  With kids you always have to pack a lifetime of food it seems anyway - as things always take longer than planned.  As for the rest, it is sensible, at least while they are young - I already do, and intend to continue doing the same things.  Better to have a protected healthy safe child, then a lost or damaged child - lets face it, they get into enough trouble when we are around

Desperate Housewives came on and I dont know about it, but there was one lady who was about to go to Paris with her boyfriend when she got a call, just as they were about to get in the car; her daughter had just been pulled up for shoplifting or something.  Based on that info she decided that she was not going to go on this trip of a lifetime to Paris.  The storyline developed that there was a mad woman with a gun in the market and the daughter ended up a hostage. 

I know this is extreme, but if this mother hadnt been 'overprotective' as her boyfriend called her....she wouldhave been on the flight to paris and her daughter a hostage and possibly none the wiser while of in Paris.

I realise that there could have been this scenario the next day while she was already away and that would have probably felt awful, but it just made me feel good about the times when i put E first, and change plans based on her needs that i perceive.  Instinct is a great thing huh.
Peace
EF.x 

I've been thinking about this all day, and I was just thinking that whether or not these behaviours are overprotective completely depends on the kids age.  If your child is 3 - these are totally appropriate.  If your son is 16 - on the other hand - I think he would be the laughing stock if you made him turn up to his school's swimming carnival with floaties on!  LMAO!  I've had the image of full-grown sixteen year old male in speedos and floaties standing on the starters block running through my head all day!!!

The question is, I think, when you move from one to the other.  I daresay the definition of overprotective is holding on to behaviours that are no longer appropriate for the age group of your child.  Where that line is, and when you cross it, is a lot harder to define.  I think it depends on the parent, the individual child's personality and maturity levels and also the society they grow up in.  No easy answer on that one.

So I guess I'm overprotective to... and proud of it.

My kids accuse me of the same thing, but its too bad I can't help, I do all that you have said and more!!!! I won't let mine play at a friends house unless I have heard from the parents, I don't let them play at the front of the house as I can't see from the house. So I guess I'm guilty as charged but I'm not going to apologise for it

I agree with everything you have said so I guess I am over protective too! Too many times you see young kids wandering the streets by themselves and you gotta wonder "where are their parents?"

I am the same way. I went on a family vacation with our daughter for the first time when she was 8 months old and my husbands family could not get over how many things I brought for her ( her towels, bath tub, all her snacks, emergency kit... ect. you name it, i brought it!) I did this becuase it is better to be safe than sorry. And I am realizing that I too am a little over protective, and thats all right with me.

thanks for the great advice!

 

I don't think you're being over protective at all. These are just normal things that i think alot of other mums and dads do also. It's not being over protective, i think it's just being carefull and safe.

* I don't let them out of my sight - Outdoors sure. I dont let them out of my sight. At home inside is a different story.

* Make them all wear bubbles and floaties while swimming - Are you kidding! If only more parents were like you we would have less deaths from drowning in the world!!

* Won't let them cross the road by themselves - And so your shouldnt! Roads are a very dangerous place for kids. I agree totally with that one!

* Kids in the kitchen when cooking is a big NO NO - This is how my son got burnt from being in the kitchen when cooking. So your doing the right thing there. Besides who wants to trip over little bodies!!

* Locking my house at night  and hiding the keys - U tell them they are idiots! There has already been 3 deaths from kids playing and going outside and getting in a car and dying! Plus little kids will wander if they get the chance. Good on you!

*Food - This is a personal choice. My kids have never gotten sick from eating other peoples foods but then again I am very picky about where we eat!

*I've never had a baby sitter - The only people I trust with my kids are my family! Letting a stranger watch your kids is risky.  I personally wouldn't either but again its a personal decision. Have uyou seen the horrific baby shake cases with babysitters?

better to be safe than sorry all round......The baby sitter one but I have had a babysitter but it is usually a realtive or Blackwidowkate......Hard for me to get a babysitter with 7 of them hehehe......you don't sound too overprotective to me....... My eldest at 16 and grade 12 still gets upset with me about wanting to talk to parents about parties he goes to hehe......Because not alot of parents do it now...

Overprotective then so am I................good work I agree with you.