9 In mom life

Food for Thought {at the park}

Food for thought
As of this summer Little Dude loves the park! I have to say, I have also come to love the park. It’s a great way to be outside in the fresh air, let little ones get some energy out and give us adults something to amuse ourselves with rather than just watching them play in the yard. 

Recently we were at our local park when we came upon a new and somewhat awkward situation. Another family arrived (mother and three children) and started playing. Soon after the other mother was offering her children snacks – a variety of crackers, food pouches, etc. I didn’t think much of this since most moms bring snacks along for their little ones and it was getting close to dinner time so it made sense that she would offer them something. I wasn’t prepared for her to offer Little Dude a food packet however. 
Food for thought

In the moment I nearly froze. I guess I was just shocked that she would offer Little Dude one of the food packets, mind you I should clarify that she immediately looked to me for approval, listed what foods were in the mixture and asked if he was allergic to anything. 

I replied that he wasn’t allergic and at that she opened the packet and gave it to him. He sat with his new little friend for 30 seconds and they ate food packets together. 

The reasonable mom in me thinks:
  1. This is not a big deal. We live in a small community, the food packet was clearly not opened before and she technically asked before giving it to him. 
  2. If I didn’t want Little Dude to have it I should I have said so. 
  3. What a kind gesture that she would even offer one of her children’s food packets to my son. There was no need, but she clearly didn’t want him to be left out. 
The crazy, not so rational mom in me thinks:
  1. Who does this?! How is this any different than taking candy from strangers which we have all been taught NOT to do since we were kids ourselves. 
  2. This other mom should have known better… offering food to a toddler and then me saying no is only going to result in a rage of anger (from everyone!)
  3.  Leave my kid alone – Stranger Danger!
Thankfully in the end the rational mom in me prevailed and I didn’t start some kind of mom fight over a packet of food at the park! In the end, she meant no harm and was genuinely trying to be kind. Is it bad, that we naturally think the worst even when people are trying to do nice things?! I guess that’s a topic for another day… now, back to the swing set!

My shoes for that: Sport Sandals

food for thought


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9 Comments

  • Reply
    Sarah Burnell
    August 15, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    I would probably have been taken aback, but I guess she was just being generous. I'd rather that than the parents who won't make eye contact and teach their kids not to include other children in their games. 🙁

    • Reply
      Jenna MacDonald
      August 20, 2017 at 5:13 pm

      That is so true… I have to admit I am pretty awkward at the park since I am not sure "what I ams SUPPOSED to do", I do make eye contact and try though!! haha

  • Reply
    Meaghan Ross
    August 15, 2017 at 3:40 pm

    I've met some wonderful moms at our local park. Because I run a daycare, and because the cost of food is so high, I never bring any snacks to the park nor are my kids allowed to accept food from others. Not necessarily because it is "stranger danger" (I think this is a kind of an absurd term as most moms I've met have been strangers to my child and myself at one time or another!) but because I do not expect other people to feel they have to feed other kids just because their kids have snacks! It also teaches them to be polite and respectful and to accept certain social norms (I don't intrude on other's snack time; I don't whine for food that I am not entitled to, etc).
    She was just trying to be generous and asked your approval. She didn't really do anything wrong, but these days we can't be feeding other people's kids like that-it's just not what we do anymore!

    • Reply
      Jenna MacDonald
      August 20, 2017 at 5:14 pm

      Very good points. I am with you, she was being extremely kind, but it still felt incredibly odd!

  • Reply
    Katie Bressler
    August 16, 2017 at 4:23 pm

    Thank you for sharing! It would take me back, but I think that is such a kind gesture. My sister always brings along snacks for my nephew and she brings extra, not because I don't have any/can't afford it, she just does it to be kind and knows my daughter will want one too 🙂

    • Reply
      Jenna MacDonald
      August 20, 2017 at 5:16 pm

      I think if I was in a larger centre I would have been the crazy mom for sure, but I was in my hometown where there are only about 2000 people. In the end, she was being nice and certainly didn't mean any harm. When I go to that park in particular I will bring extra snacks… seems like the "culture" of that park 🙂

  • Reply
    Heather Brandon
    August 20, 2017 at 2:42 pm

    You know, I've had tons of other moms offer my kids food. It's always out of kindness and not wanting to be rude and eat in front of others. Maybe it's just the norm where I live. Unfortunately, my kids are on a strict medical diet and I have to be the meanie and say no most of the time.

    • Reply
      Jenna MacDonald
      August 20, 2017 at 5:17 pm

      Strict diets are a new thing for us too… Not likely to your extend but we are managing a lactose issue now which limits certain snacks for sure. I agree though, I think all moms are coming from a place of kindness and now wanting anyone to be left out.

  • Reply
    Muhammad Danial
    September 24, 2017 at 8:35 pm

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