Jan
19
Well, That Baby had swimming class again today. And the score is:
Abby – 2
Other Kids in Swimming Class – 0
Abby bit another kid, Ben, within moments of arriving on the pool deck for today’s class. Now, there are only three kids in class, and Abby’s taken a chunk out of two of them. Next week, either she’s going to have to bite herself, or the instructor better watch out.
I’ll tell you what, though: I did not let Stinkerbelle go anywhere NEAR Abby today. If Abby was on the ground, I picked That Baby up. And I only let That Baby walk about when Abby was up in her grandmother’s arms. Stinkerbelle STILL has a bruise on her little cheek, a week later. I’m not taking any chances that Abby wants to make a matching set of bruises on her.
I’m beginning to really dislike that kid.
I really am not too fond of the little cannibal either.
Is it totally horrible of me that I would be tempted to bite the kid back?? Poor little Stinkerbelle. I can not imagine how hard that bite was to still have a mark! That is so horrible.
That is crazy! I think I would be keeping my space from the biter too!
Wowee – it really bothers me that you have to alter your behaviour because that kid’s guardian can’t control her. And that she knew that kid had a history of biting & yet she didn’t tell you until after the bite happened. Grrrrr.
I have read all these posts, now I will give you my opinion. I am so sorry this happened to Stinkerbelle, but we need to realize lots of kids bite. It happened to my Abby,she was bit very hard on the shoulder ,by another child ,her cousin in fact. I was devestated for her and me, but let us not write off this child, she is only a baby. The child that bit my Abby turned out to be a great little boy. Just my thought.
I understand where you are coming from, Melanie. Kids DO bite. But I don’t think that this gives them free rein to bite, without an adult at least trying to do something to prevent it from happening, especially when the child has a pattern of biting.
If it were Stinkerbelle who was a biter, I’d sure as hell be watching her in social situations, AND make mention to other kids’ parents that biting is a possibility. It’s just common sense, and responsible parenting, in my opinion. And so, because Swimming Class Abby’s grandmother doesn’t seem to cotton to the fact that she needs to intervene and do something to prevent her granddaughter from biting other children, then the onus is on me to ensure that she doesn’t do any more harm to my child.
Possibly I am considered by a lot of people to be pretty strict in my parenting style. I’ve heard people mention it before. But I am okay with that. And it works well for us.
I’m sure, like you said, Swimming Class Abby will grow up just fine. But right now, she seems to be a little lacking in discipline for me to be comfortable letting Stinkerbelle play around her. And because I can’t count on her caregivers to watch her, I’m just going to make sure that I don’t allow for any situations to come up where biting incidents could occur. I’m not real fond of Abby right now, but my only interaction with her has been less than positive.
Oh yes , I was on edge for quite a while when we were around little cousin and I watched him like a hawk. He had parents that were mortified by the situation.Lets hope “the grandmother” will try and put a halt to the little biter.
Is the grandmother doing NOTHING to prevent the biting? No warning, no telling Abby “no!”?
Inflicting pain on another person is never acceptable behaviour.
I agree with watching over our own. I also believe in watching over others. We can’t control other people or their parenting styles, only our own. I must say, I have a hard time not disciplining (speaking to) other people’s kids, especially when it comes to someone hurting mine (mind you I babysit 11 kids after school some days and I treat them all like they are my own and they all have to follow the same rules). I would have handled the situation much differently, probably not well. Kudos to you for keeping your cool. Keep your eyes peeled Cinn. Watch over that baby like a hawk and do what works best for you, no matter what anyone else says. You are a great mommy. Some other people should learn some lessons about being stricter with their children from you, and it would be a great lesson. I think somehow discipline and strictness has become a bad thing in today’s society…and look how some of the hooligans have turned out. Just my own humble rantings. Sorry if it offends anyone.