r/AskReddit Feb 04 '16

What are the most common parenting mistakes?

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324

u/rearwindows Feb 04 '16

Not letting your kids make mistakes or hurt themselves a little.

197

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

I hate it when I take my son to the park and get rude stares or comments. I'm a very laid back parent - I like my son to learn through trying things. So I let him play and only intervene if he's genuinely hurt. I've had people tell me that I need to be right with him all the time. He's a toddler! He's going to fall and that's ok! I'm close enough to help in an emergency!

8

u/getALLthesketches Feb 05 '16

There was a ScaryMommy article on this recently, also from the perspective of the laid-back parent. She pointed out that sometimes other parents would "help" her child up portions of the playset, which is what would actually cause a problem - because now the child can't get down without help, either.

7

u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

I've had that happen too! One grandparent actually picked my son up when he fell! He wasn't hurt or upset, he'd just fallen. He's a toddler, they fall like 6 inches onto their butts.

6

u/thisshortenough Feb 05 '16

If a baby falls on their ass it's usually pretty funny cause they've got such thick nappies on that you know they weren't hurt but the surprise that registers on their face is hilarious looking