[StephandOwen]

stay away from my child!!!!

At the mall today there was a Santa. DS doesn't particularly like Santa, and I'm fine with that. Whatever. I don't care. I did stop next to the Santa (well, far enough away where Santa wasn't RIGHT there, but close enough so ds could see). He put his book over his head and didn't want Santa to see him. Fine. We went into the jewelry place right next to it and the lady kept talking to ds saying that ds needed to go sit on Santa's lap and that if he doesn't then he won't have any presents on Christmas. DS was kinda confused but was more or less "okay". He knows that mama and Jason will spoil him rotten anyway

But seriously.... scar a kid for life. No, I will not make him sit on Santa's lap if he doesn't want to

and no, you don't need to make the poor boy fear he's not going to get anything for Christmas if he doesn't sit on some random dude's lap

:

 

[vilaura]

Ugh. Why would someone feel that their views are welcome when they are so clearly rotten things to say to a child? I'm sorry that happened to you both.

 

[mrspineau]

That is an awful thing to say to a child. I am sorry, and I am glad that your son wasn't too upset by that - a LOT of kids would have been.

 

[2pinks]

"I'm sorry, are you saying it's appropriate for me to FORCE my child to sit on a stranger's lap for presents?

 

[avivaelona]

I would have spoken up immediatly and said "No, he doesn't need to" and ended that conversation. She may have thought you wanted to for the pictures and was meddlesomly trying to help. It doesn't make it right but you could have made it clear that you didn't want the "help"

 

[LauraN]

Grrr. I would have said, "Oh, that's silly. We would never punish our son for being afraid of a stranger!" Maybe that would help her see what she was doing in the name of Christmas cheer!

 

[CattiBrieDourden]

Yes, I would have had to spoken up for my child. Politely, but forcefully. I don't understand why people think they have to speak to children as if their parents were not there. I don't speak to random children when we are out an about unless I've had at least a nod from a parent, usually when my girl runs up to the kid to give hugs...haha.

I'm not looking forward to that next year. She's too young this year.

 

[mistymama]

Oh man, how annoying.

Ds loves Santa and does not have a shy bone in his body, so he looks forward to talking Santa's ear off at the mall each year. But it always amazes me while we are in line the people that FORCE their crying kids to sit on his lap! Why? It's nuts.

And it annoys me to no end when people think they can say crap like that to your child! I would have snapped back at her, probably not the best way to handle it.

:

 

[russsk]

Apologize for hijacking a bit, but as a child I was forced to sit on Santa's lap (and get clown make-up at the circus) against my will. My mother has many pictures of me red-faced and crying with Santa. I assume this is not the norm now, but at that time it was totally normal for the mall Santa to kiss the little girls, and I shudder to think about that now. I distinctly remember one time Santa telling me that I couldn't have a candy cane and wouldn't get any presents if I didn't give him a kiss. I didn't even like kissing relatives, so I ran away screaming. So yeah, if that were me that woman would have gotten an earful. Totally out of line.

 

[Breeder]

Wow, what an jerk thing to say. I would've been looking at that woman like she was a crazy person.

 

[momo7]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LauraN Grrr. I would have said, "Oh, that's silly. We would never punish our son for being afraid of a stranger!" Maybe that would help her see what she was doing in the name of Christmas cheer!

: I just love it when strangers insist on trying to manipulate my children into doing something (like taking a sticker, or talking to them)

 

[Aquafina]

Oh so sad.I cant believe the lady said that.I would have been mad.I was scared of santa when I was little,and the easter bunny...I always wonder what weirdo is hiding under the suit...

 

[JennTheMomma]

Ugh, thats annoying when people act like everyone has the exact same views. We do Santa and Hunter loves it. We recently were getting his pictures taking with Santa (not in the mall) and there was so many kids there who were afraid of him but the parents made them sit on his lap screaming just so they could get some pictures. Thats horrible. We will only do Santa for as long as Hunter wants to, and if he cries its over with. I'm not going to make him scream and scar him just so we can get a picture.

 

[Katwoman]

I hate it when people don't think before they speak. At Halloween my 4 yo wanted to be a pirate. Had the costume and was so excited. A woman at the store asked her what she was going to be, when she told the lady a pirate, the lady actually said "you can't be a pirate, your a girl and girls are princesses." I could not believe it. Despite me saying she can be anything she wants and she'll be a girl no matter what she choose. My daughter was unhappy and wanted to be a princess because "she wouldn't be a girl unless she was a princess".

I know people like to interact with children, but shesh!

I feel for you with Santa. It's great you don't make him do it against his will.

 

[1littlebit]

why would someone want pictures of your kids red faced and screaming on santa's lap? wont that look holly jolly on the christmas cards!

eta- and man those memories! o look theres little suzie screaming her brains out on santa's lap! i wonder why she hates christmas so much..she used to love it...