November 6, 2009
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Momversation: Talking to Strangers
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I'm not sure I ever really got this Momversation. I like hearing all of the mom bloggers in it, but Jessica was asking if we let our kids talk back to strangers, and I'm still not sure what the opposing sides of this are. Being polite to others is one issue that can be parsed here, but strangers is a different thing. If we are taking a walk and a stranger tells Vivien she has nice rain boots and Vivien launches into a story about them I don't go "shoosh, potential molester, walk on by." I'm there, I'm monitoring what is going on.
I was raised to be a big sassy pants, but sit up straight when needed. I think my kids are still too young to figure out where they are on this one.
I think a lot of us were a little confused about this momversation. Maybe she meant 'talk back' as in 'respond'?
My kids don't really like talking to strangers, especially when we're out shopping–and they're vocal about it. Many times people have been right up on my son's face telling him how cute he is and he tells them to stop and I don't correct him for this.
I just don't want them to feel that strangers have the right to invade their personal space and they have to put up with it because they're kids and they have to 'respect their elders'. I know many don't agree with this but I just do not feel comfortable forcing my children to be 'nice' to strangers… I think there are other ways to teach them to be polite.
If they feel like engaging in conversation with a stranger I don't stop them though.
I don't get this . . . Aren't "toddlers" supervised? I don't see how a stranger could have an unmonitored conversation with a supervised toddler. The fears of stranger molestation seem uninformed. I bet research would show that molesters are by in large not strangers but people who would be welcome at the parents' dinner table.