Overboard parenting?

[Jorddyn]

Before coming to our extended family Christmas, my sister-in-law called to see if anyone was sick/sneezing/vomiting/speaking in voices. She then arrived (5 hours late) and immediately "requested" that everyone wash their hands with the anti-bacterial soap she had brought with her, saying they would leave if we did not comply. It felt like kindergarten. "Everyone line up and wash your hands!"

Neither of her children are sickly. In fact, she was the only person in attendance with any semblance of a cold.

I will admit my bias in that she drives me freakin' insane (in case you didn't pick that up).

Jorddyn

[Eiderfleur]

Sounds obsessive compulsive.

Shit I would hate if my mom had been like that while I was growing up.

My parents kick ass!

[Artha]

"Protecting" kids from germs just makes them more likely to get sick. Yay for having an immune system.

[Ilvane]

You should have her read the research that says antibacterial soap is actually worse to use than regular, and doesn't kill as many germs.;) :lol:

-A

[Snapp]

Way too paranoid. Kids get germs. Kids get sick. That's life! I feel for them if she's always like that.

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by Ilvane
You should have her read the research that says antibacterial soap is actually worse to use than regular, and doesn't kill as many germs.;) :lol:


I think I'll go in search of that now and drop it to her in an anonymous e-mail :)

Yay for me not being as bitchy as I thought!*

Jorddyn

*bitchiness graded by responses thus far to this highly scientific survey

[Ilvane]

http://www.healthcentral.com/news/NewsFullText.cfm?id=517675

There you go, made it easier.:)

-A

[Nieninque]

Imagine what the first day at school was like....:nutty:

[TheRoseLady]

Not only is it overboard, but it's rude. To demand that people wash their hands immediately - is well, the stuff that people that haven't been taught any better do.

[Wezas]

I think I'll probably be that way when I have my first kid.

But I assume by the second kid I'll be all "Oh, let him play with the electrical outlet, it'll teach him a lesson".

[Sean]

You should have just not have washed your hands.

[Lomoriond]

My aunt has five children from age 6 to 12... who I babysat for a good portion of my winter holiday.

Now.. with five children.. the trick is to give two of them weapons and two of them a warning.... chances are the herd will be thinned by at LEAST one....

ahem, was that out loud?

L

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by Tijay
You should have just not have washed your hands.

I was needing to head home soon anyway (did I mention she was 5 hours late?), so I left. I did make a point of giving my niece and nephew each a big hug with unwashed hands. :)


Originally posted by Nieninque

Imagine what the first day at school was like....

They aren't old enough for school yet, but I imagine it will be a drama. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if she home schooled. I feel for them.

The one time I did get to babysit my niece was the day my nephew was born. I made sure she got good and messy, played outside in the mud with the dog. My brother came home before I'd had a chance to clean her up. I don't think I'll be babysitting again any time soon :lol:

Jorddyn, determined to be the fun aunt

[Skeeter]

I would have called the bluff. and if she did leave, then played my tape of Arkans yelling

FUCKING PWNED!!!!11!1!!

I'd say for the sake of the holidays that putting on that fake smile and nod, followed by unassuaged handwashing would have just been the way to go.

Did you end up complying?

[SpunGirl]

That's pretty ridiculous. My Aunt pulled some similar crap this year. My Grandparents and parents live in the same town, and my dad's sister Donna stayed with my parents, while my mom's sister Jill stayed with the grandparents.

Donna asked if she could bring her dogs (two old senile basset mixes who never do anything more aggressive than whine and sniff the floor, gobbling any leftovers). Jill said that she would NOT come over for Christmas dinner unless the dogs were LOCKED AWAY FOR THE DURATION OF THE EVENING because her girls (ages 4 and 5) are SCARED TO DEATH OF DOGS.

I really don't think she was doing her kids any favors. Neither was Jorddyn's aunt. Lame.

-K

[Nakiro]

Originally posted by TheRoseLady
Not only is it overboard, but it's rude. To demand that people wash their hands immediately - is well, the stuff that people that haven't been taught any better do.

I agree with this statement completely.

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by Stanley Burrell
I'd say for the sake of the holidays that putting on that fake smile and nod, followed by unassuaged handwashing would have just been the way to go.

Did you end up complying?

I gave up Christmas on Christmas day so that she could spend it with her family, and instead spent Christmas day alone.

I gave up our immediate family Christmas at my parent's house and went to hers so that she would not have to bundle up the kids and leave her house.

I purchased presents for her and my brother after I had suggested that I only buy for the kids, and they not buy for me since she "really wanted to shop" for me, only to find my present was a $20 bill.

I waited 5 hours to see my niece and nephew at the extended family Christmas since she had to go shopping with her mother (who she brought to our family Christmas).

No, I did not wash my hands. See my previous post. I hugged the kids, grabbed my stuff and left. I guess it was the straw that broke the camel's back for me.


Originally posted by SpunGirl
Donna asked if she could bring her dogs (two old senile basset mixes who never do anything more aggressive than whine and sniff the floor, gobbling any leftovers). Jill said that she would NOT come over for Christmas dinner unless the dogs were LOCKED AWAY FOR THE DURATION OF THE EVENING because her girls (ages 4 and 5) are SCARED TO DEATH OF DOGS.

This is one of those sticky situations, too. Allow them to avoid dogs, and they'll never get over the fear. I had the exact same phobia growing up. My parents' solution after about a year of having to pick my screaming ass up any time a dog came near? They bought a dog.

Jorddyn, going on vacation next year.

[Caiylania]

I clicked overboard by accident. That woman is wayyy beyond overboard. And from your last post sounds like she needs some serious help with manners and holiday spirit.

Gah.

[The Cat In The Hat]

I can understand the germ thing, only because my baby was 3 months premature and very susceptible to various germs and respitory infections that could have killed her. But my family understood, and took the proper precautions until she was out of the risk age/weight. But I do think that with a healthy child that's going way too far.

Threatening to leave if everyone doesnt wash their hands? What if uncle Jed scratches his ass, just gonna get them dirty again, so whats the point?

[Scott]

The minute she made a threat that she'd leave if I didn't wash my hands would make me not do it. I don't do well with threats. If you ask me nicely, I would have no problems washing my hands, but the minute you say "Alright, if you don't do it, we are leaving" I'd say, "The door is right over there."

You want everyone to wash their hands, you ASK, demands don't sit well with people.

[Drew]

That's the kind of thing that would make me go Ben on a girl. Or at least think about it.

[War Angel]

That's just downright crazy sounding. Does she not realize that when they touch something, anything, the "bacteria" will be back? Did you give her a year supply of multi-vitamins for Christmas?! I sure as hell woulda.

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by Jorddyn
Before coming to our extended family Christmas, my sister-in-law called to see if anyone was sick/sneezing/vomiting/speaking in voices. She then arrived (5 hours late) and immediately "requested" that everyone wash their hands with the anti-bacterial soap she had brought with her, saying they would leave if we did not comply. It felt like kindergarten. "Everyone line up and wash your hands!"

Neither of her children are sickly. In fact, she was the only person in attendance with any semblance of a cold.

I will admit my bias in that she drives me freakin' insane (in case you didn't pick that up).

Jorddyn

Sorry.. if she was coming to my house and throwing demands on me and my family, I would have walked over to MY door and opened it up for them. Buh Bye.

Maybe not the most Christmassy thing for me to do.. but I normally don't take crap from anyone.. much less a non-blood relative.

[Nunya]

My three pre-schoolers had colds over Christmas, one of whom has asthma and has to use a nebulizer when he gets a cold.

I wish some dumbass had washed his hands before coming home from work. Or, just not come home.

That said...what a dumb wench, I would have told her (nicely) there was no way washing hands would stop colds from being spread. Handwashing alone is vastly overrated, unless you intend to wash them every time you touch something. It definitely helps, particularly in a closed environment, but it's not some cure-all.

It does sound, however, that you don't like her regardless, so what would be the point of telling her anything nicely, heh.

[Wezas]

The whole dog & Holiday thing has been an issue for us. Dad's house = 3 hours away for all of us.

My sister breeds dogs, but keeps her dogs at home when she comes for the holiday.

Our dog we either leave at home, or hand off to my girl's mom.

My brother's dog ALWAYS comes to the holidays. It was cute when he was a puppy. Now he's 2 and just annoying. Leave the dog at home.

I think next Christmas I'm going to bring my dog. I'm sure with her big ass tail she'll be knocking some ornaments off the tree.

[Toxicvixen]

Threats don't sit well with me, but I would have washed my hands and then done something just gross. Picked my nose in front of her, licked all the serving spoons, coughed loudly and without covering my mouth. Something just repulsive. Or maybe start "comming down with something" and then decide to go play with the children! Patty Cake anyone!?

Though if she had asked nicely I wouldn't have cared. And I would comply if the child had been prone to illness or what not. Its all in the circumstance. Your sister in law would have been fun to mess with. Sounds like your brother picked himslef a Winner! Poor kids.

[Eylanthriel]

I probably would have sneezed on my hands and picked up one of her kids....:saint:

Damn, Didn't see the post above me...someone stole my idea :bleh:

[Edited on 12-28-2004 by Eylanthriel]