Written By: Naz Haider | Published : June 20, 2017 11:41 AM IST
My daughter has a friend she is very close to. Both are very close in age and I am especially fond of the the friend's mother. When on playdates, we are 'parenting' each other's children without a second thought, correcting and lauding them both. She is the one who taught the mantra 'small bites many many chews' to my daughter, when she saw her stuffing her face with chips, and I can't thank her enough. The thing here is that I never felt bad whenever she corrected my daughter, and vice versa. However, recently I was visiting a family with a child an year older than my daughter. He was playing too rough and being physical with my daughter, which my daughter doesn't appreciate. I told him twice to 'not be rough and use gentle hands'. The boy was fine, it was the mother who was visibly offended. It was then I realised that not all parents are okay with other people correcting or disciplining their children. I wondered what do other mothers think about it, and I asked a few mothers for their opinion.
"It totally depends on the equation I share with that other person. I will not appreciate someone I barely know, and who, more importantly, doesn't know much about my child, correcting her ways. Plus, we all have our own parenting styles and ways of communicating with out children, especially young children. I don't want anyone to meddle with it" says Riya Sahni, mother of a 5 year old.
"I don't like people correcting my child, period. In a way you are questioning my upbringing and disciplining. If my child is not behaving the way you like, talk to me and I will tell her what to do, but correcting my child for me, no thanks" Jasmine Shaikh, mother to a 4 year old.
"I don't mind anyone teaching my child good behaviour, it will only benefit my child. As long as you tell my son to be gentle, courteous and play fair, all's okay. The problem is when people push it too far, asking him to clean up after him in a chastising voice and mocking on his lack of disciplining at home. No parent teaches bad things to their children, so don't assume otherwise" Priyanka Cherry, mother to two children under 3.
"If you are saying something light to my child when I am around, like don't eat dirt or dn't pick your nose, I will let it slide. But go behind my back to correct my child, and I won't take it. This has happened to me when people have spoken to my child in a very condescending tone about how she doesn't have good manners because she was never taught better. That is simply not acceptable" Sandhya Raju, mother to a 3 year old.
What's your take on this? Will you correct other people's children? Will you be okay if someone tries to correct and discipline your child? Please share your opinion in the comments.
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