Ok for some this may be a complete no-brainer. If your child is allergic to a certain type of grass, do you identify it for them? If they have a minor medical situation, do you make them aware of it? I'm sure the older generation in our families think DH and I are insane, and I'm not inclined to agree, but hey my perspective may be understandably biased!
A couple years ago when DS was 5, we were visiting the in-laws. DS is allergic to certain types of weeds, and we've identified them to him and advised him to avoid playing around them if possible. He pointed out one at a park and informed his grandma and stepgrandpa that he was allergic to them. They though it was ridiculous that we had taught him that, stating he would use that as an excuse from now on. Would you not teach your child to identify poison ivy and instruct them to avoid it if they were sensitive to it? Were we wrong here?
There are other things that have come up along similar lines. I guess DH and I think the kids have a right to take some control over their health and know what affects them adversly, but on the flip side we're being told we're setting them up to cry babies (they aren't at this point for the most part). Thoughts?
ETA: We don't expect our children to manage their conditions, mild or otherwise. That's our job. We just feel they should be able to have a say in some things and know what to look for as well in certain situations. We are still watching in those situations, but say we're in the park, DS may notice something he's allergic to before we do, etc.
A couple years ago when DS was 5, we were visiting the in-laws. DS is allergic to certain types of weeds, and we've identified them to him and advised him to avoid playing around them if possible. He pointed out one at a park and informed his grandma and stepgrandpa that he was allergic to them. They though it was ridiculous that we had taught him that, stating he would use that as an excuse from now on. Would you not teach your child to identify poison ivy and instruct them to avoid it if they were sensitive to it? Were we wrong here?
There are other things that have come up along similar lines. I guess DH and I think the kids have a right to take some control over their health and know what affects them adversly, but on the flip side we're being told we're setting them up to cry babies (they aren't at this point for the most part). Thoughts?
ETA: We don't expect our children to manage their conditions, mild or otherwise. That's our job. We just feel they should be able to have a say in some things and know what to look for as well in certain situations. We are still watching in those situations, but say we're in the park, DS may notice something he's allergic to before we do, etc.
: I don't get it at all. If parents have information like that and don't share it with their kids, I'd say they're being neglectful.
: Can you imagine?? And the worst part is that this doesn't embarrass her son; in fact, he'll run home to tell her about a work problem so that she can handle it. I can't even imagine what his teachers had to deal with from her when he was in school. 
