Friday 17 January 2014

Parenting Skills, A Ranty Post!

Forgive me, I've not posted since last year but I'm starting the new year with a rant.

The other day I was walking behind a couple with a toddler in tow. He climbed up on a little wall, two bricks high, (actually it's the one Joe climbs on everytime we pass) and on jumping down he twisted his foot and started to howl. His mum said 'serves you right' His dad said 'shut up right now, or I'll give you something to cry about' The poor lad quietened down to a whimper.

My blood was boiling. The little lad couldn't have been more than three years old, doing what a typical child of his age would do. It wasn't his fault he got hurt, it was an accident. He had every right to cry, he was hurting. I told myself it was none of my business and bit my tongue. I wish I hadn't.

Then today I'm walking behind a mum with her three kids. The mum had really black hair, obviously dyed, you could see copper highlights. The son had brown hair. The smallest girl had a mane of glorious copper hair, it really was amazing. The older girl, who looked about eight, had bleached blonde hair with copper roots. WHAT!! Why bleach your child's hair at such a young age? I know ginger headed kids get teased at school but wouldn't it be better to let them deal with it rather than bleach their hair. I know I'm not the only person who likes ginger hair, one of my best friends at school had ginger hair. There is nothing wrong with it, I don't know why some people hate it so much. Especially to the extend of dying a young girl's hair just because she's ginger.

Now, I know I'm not a perfect mum, I've messed up loads over the years. but I wouldn't be angry at my child when they are hurt, even if it was their own fault. I wouldn't bleach my child's hair at such a young age. That's like telling them they are not beautiful just as they are, if they think their own mum doesn't like the way they look how will they ever cope with what anyone else thinks of them?