Please read..kinda long sorry;)

cchrisler

So, I've posted before about my dd having to have glasses. She got them at 8 mon. She (and we) are used to them. I honestly feel like she is still the most beautiful little girl in the world. Well, lately I've been bothered by comments that I hear other kids make. I know, they are just kids but it still irks me because as a parent, I feel like the mom should say something to them. One of many examples, I was at the pool the other day and a little boy (if I had to guess age, I'd say 5) was standing in the water shouting and laughing 'look! that baby has glasses! Look!' to his friends. Did he mean harm? Probably not. Does dd even know what he is saying at this point? No. Still it bothered me. I guess maybe because I remember babysitting our neighbors children and one of them telling another neighbor kid that she couldn't play with them because she wears glasses. I remember thinking I would never let my child treat another child like that.I hate the thought that a kid may say that to my dd someday.

When I was in 2nd grade, I ran into a classmate's mom at the pharmacy where she worked. She said something to be about how I was in her son's class. He was a bigger kid. I said something rude like, 'Ben is fat.' And I'll never forget what she said to me: "That's because he has such a big heart." She didn't tell me I was rude, she didn't scold my mom...that was all she said. Can you imagine the strength that took since I'm sure my comment hurt her feelings (even worse knowing what Ben went through every day)? Of course, when we got out to the car, my mom had words with me. But I remember hearing my parents talk like that, heck my dad still does. My goal is to have that strength with other people's children and to never let it get to me or my DD.

Can we please commit to not allowing our kids to hurt the feelings of others just because of how they look, or what they wear etc...?!  Vent over. Thanks

 

megs042107

I would respond to any comments with "that's because my baby is smart." ?kind of like your classmate's mom did to you. ?:)?

MaybeABaby?

I totally agree- I am 6 ft tall and I still get tall comments, always have, and it bothers me still!

Your daughter's glasses are adorable

punkfiction

omg babies in glasses are the cutest EVER!

ibfloridagirl

My dad got glasses when he was about your LO's age.  I think they are adorable )

mooregatemommy

I agree with you. Kids need censorship. But, a 5 year old has no idea that it is a hurtful comment. He was probably just pointing it out to his friends to see because he hadn't seen it before. I'm sure if the mom had heard him say it she would have said something and been embarassed. I am going off of what my 6 year old nephew says and how my sister reacts.

FWIW, I think your dd is adorable in her glasses.

Cytina

Kids can be cruel - sometimes on purpose, sometimes not.  I hope I can instill in DS how important it is not to say things that are hurtful; although there are things that kids say that are simple observations, not intended to be mean.

Monkeybuttwhat

MaybeABaby?:

I totally agree- I am 6 ft tall and I still get tall comments, always have, and it bothers me still!

Your daughter's glasses are adorable

Did you always get "omg do you play basketball?" I always got that and wanted to punch people/ I hate basketball. 

CA2006

Awww..it has to be SO hard to hear things like that about your baby.  You are going to want to protect them forever, but it is your job to protect them when they are that young.  I am sorry that happened.   I hope DS doesn't offend like that when he is older.  He won't do it when I am around, that's for sure (at least not without a firm talking-to)! Your daughter is beautiful!

pixiedustie

I actually think your DD is precious in her glasses!  I doubt those little boys meant anything mean, it probably was something they have never seen.  I do hope I can raise my daughter to be kind.  I really would love to instill being kind to others as a value she has.  I also think it is up to you to let your DD know that there is nothing wrong with her glasses and wearing them is not shameful or embarrassing in any way.  She really is gorgeous!

Monkeybuttwhat

I am sorry about you LO I bet she is cute in them. As she gets older they might not make fun of her. Kids are cruel and say stupid stuff.

The kids in our neighborhood make fun of the boys and call the MR (I giess that is the new retarded)

I had to ask them what it meant. When they told me it took everything I had to not yell at them and just walk away. It is hard when you see your kids being made fun of. The youngest yells out the window and asks them if they want to play and they say no thanks MR. It makes me want to cry. Now the youngest is getting older and seeing the older on e is the reason he gets labeled MR with him and they lost their brother bond and he makes fun of the older one now. OMG heart breaking. DH and I had talked about it and knew it would happen but nothing prepares you for it. Sigh. I know your pain. 

alliebon0903

I agree with pp, maybe he was just pointing it out b/c he'd never seen a baby with glasses? I would hope he wasn't saying it to be malicious.

FWIW, I think babies/toddlers with glasses (including your DD of course) are freakin' adorable!

 

LindsayMarieG

I get the same thing about DS's helmet. I get the strangest looks and comments from kids...it makes me sad. Parents treat him differently like "oh poor baby". DS is used to it and it is temporary so I just remind myself that he is super cute and he is worth it.

 

 

 

Your daughter can come play with Carter bug!

mamamoos

mooregatemommy:

I agree with you. Kids need censorship. But, a 5 year old has no idea that it is a hurtful comment. He was probably just pointing it out to his friends to see because he hadn't seen it before. I'm sure if the mom had heard him say it she would have said something and been embarassed.

FWIW, I think your dd is adorable in her glasses.

ditto this.  seeing a baby that young in glasses is pretty rare, which is probably why he was so excited to point it out to his friends, KWIM? 

regardless, i definitely understand being sensitive to other people's comments about DC -- don't let it get to you!  i like that mother's approach to comments in your story and PP's suggestion that you explain that she has the glasses bc she's so smart!

brideofaussie

Absolutely.

I was made fun of a lot as a child.  Of course it was rarely around adults, but my child will NEVER hear me make fun of other people (I don't do it in the first place) and will be read the riot act if I ever hear them make fun of others.

LoriFalce

I hate when people silently encourage their children to be heartless, which is really what this does.

We stayed at a hotel last year, and I took Joseph down to breakfast while Matt was still in bed. There was this woman speaking German to her three kids, who were mostly speaking English. As we were getting ready to leave, one of the kids said "Did you see the fat lady with the baby?"

Did Mom say "That's not nice?" No. She said, in German, "If you want to say things like that, say them in German so she can't understand you."

Except that I'm Austrian and Swiss. I speak better German than she spoke English. So I said (in German) "Try Spanish. I don't speak that."

She packed her kids up and fled, giving me dirty looks the whole time. Right. Because I was the rude one.

LindsayMarieG

LoriFalce:

I hate when people silently encourage their children to be heartless, which is really what this does.

We stayed at a hotel last year, and I took Joseph down to breakfast while Matt was still in bed. There was this woman speaking German to her three kids, who were mostly speaking English. As we were getting ready to leave, one of the kids said "Did you see the fat lady with the baby?"

Did Mom say "That's not nice?" No. She said, in German, "If you want to say things like that, say them in German so she can't understand you."

Except that I'm Austrian and Swiss. I speak better German than she spoke English. So I said (in German) "Try Spanish. I don't speak that."

She packed her kids up and fled, giving me dirty looks the whole time. Right. Because I was the rude one.

 

OMG  who tells their kid that?!

Monkeybuttwhat

LoriFalce:

I hate when people silently encourage their children to be heartless, which is really what this does.

We stayed at a hotel last year, and I took Joseph down to breakfast while Matt was still in bed. There was this woman speaking German to her three kids, who were mostly speaking English. As we were getting ready to leave, one of the kids said "Did you see the fat lady with the baby?"

Did Mom say "That's not nice?" No. She said, in German, "If you want to say things like that, say them in German so she can't understand you."

Except that I'm Austrian and Swiss. I speak better German than she spoke English. So I said (in German) "Try Spanish. I don't speak that."

She packed her kids up and fled, giving me dirty looks the whole time. Right. Because I was the rude one.

I love how it was your fault

alisonada

Aww, my 2 year old DD recently got glasses, and I dread the day she gets made fun of for it, I'm sure it will break my heart. That said, I don't think the little boy really meant anything at all bad by his comment - like the pp mentioned he had probably just never seen a baby that young in glasses.

 

MaybeABaby?

Monkeybuttwhat:

MaybeABaby?:

I totally agree- I am 6 ft tall and I still get tall comments, always have, and it bothers me still!

Your daughter's glasses are adorable

Did you always get "omg do you play basketball?" I always got that and wanted to punch people/ I hate basketball. 

all.the.time

Monkeybuttwhat

MaybeABaby?:

Monkeybuttwhat:

MaybeABaby?:

I totally agree- I am 6 ft tall and I still get tall comments, always have, and it bothers me still!

Your daughter's glasses are adorable

Did you always get "omg do you play basketball?" I always got that and wanted to punch people/ I hate basketball. 

all.the.time

Ugh I hated it ! HATED it lol. 

cchrisler

Thanks ladies! I agree, the kids probably didn't mean to be rude. I am probably so sensitive because of the future fears I have for the kids who do mean to be rude.

 About the story from the lady who speaks German: OMG!!!! That is crazy. Great job for not flipping out. Thats the thing I'm afraid of doing, and I never want DD to think it's a big deal ya know? I want to handle it with grace and teach her to be strong etc. Thank you for sharing 

brandonsfuturewife07

your daughter is adorable, and i have always thought babies in glasses were SO cute!!

i'm so sorry people can't turn on their filters more often.

CCinLove

Ditto others that the child probably commented because he's never seen a baby with glasses before.  I recall seeing your baby's picture previously and doing a double take because I've never seen a baby with glasses either.  My first thoughts were a) she looks adorable in her glasses, and b) I wonder how you keep her from ripping them off and eating them

Mrs.Beans

I remember you posting about this before.  I'm sorry those kids made you feel bad - I'm sure he had no idea that what he was saying was hurtful to you.  I still think your DD is the cutest and I hope she never feels self conscious about her eyesight. 

bstngrl578

Seriously - I think kids with glasses are FREAKING precious.

OSUx2

I think your DD looks cute with her glasses!