You're at a pool, your 3.5 son asks to jump in, but is afraid to once he's standing on the edge. He's used to jumping in and usually likes water. Mom is waiting in the pool to catch him, and Dad thinks he's being a baby about it so pushes him in. Mom catches him, but the son is scared and very upset.
Re: How would you feel about this?
ditto
I think the dad used poor judgement and I think the 3.5 year old may now be scared of the water.
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This exactly.
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I also have a problem with calling your child a "chicken." ?We went to a birthday party for one of DH's old HS friends' daughter. DH's friend has issues, but DH tries to be supportive of him, etc. He got his daughter a water slide and she was scared of it (just turned 3).
He started calling her a chicken. I was livid and it wasn't even my child.
I'm pretty sure my DH knows better. ?
This kind of behavior is why my sister and I both have a fear of water. Our stepfather started out by pushing us in the pool becasue we were scared to go in. As we got older he would toss us in and then once we were in the water he would dive under and pull on our feet so we'd be forced under the water.
Not fun. And to this day I will not let m children go near water with my stepfather (their grandfather obvisouly). He doesn't get it and thinks I'm crazy but I really don't care what he thinks about it.
I would be bummed...I feel like somewhere along the lines, this has happened to most people, though...I mean..I don't know. I would be mad, but I would not file for divorce or declare him a monster...
The kid might need a little extra attention as far as water safety and fears go, though..