USA, Canada /
Differences in How Polish People Raise a Child and How Americans Raise a Child [149]
The situation Elmhurst tom described is exactly what goes on at my house.
By all my neighbours and my wifes family I am considered a very bad father. Basically my child fell over the other day and cut his knee. He came crying to me and I put a small plaster on it and gave him a sweet and he was right as rain and continued playing. Thewife got on the phone to her mum and they were cursing me rotten that I didnt do sth more.
Also, I would not allow the child in bed with us after the age of 6 mths nad now when he sleeps over babcias he even requests his own room (when u see the in law, I wouldnt want to be in bed with her either). They curse me and ask me what I have turned this child into and I just tell them 'a healthy, young man', not a snivelling litlle brat like his cousin.
My child got into the habit of biting. His babcia and mum would just tell him to stop it and give huim a hug so biting became associated with the pleasure of a hug. Only onec he bit me and itwas the last time because I bit him back, not too hard but just enough to teach him a lesson. If he starts pullin hair I will do the same too. I am a monster for doing this apparently.
Polish parents are certainly too overprotective. They will use the dotor for the slightest splutter. My wife's sisters' kid has lost most of his toddlerhood cos he was in and out of the doctor for the slightest ail. They paid for a preschool for him and he has been twice cos he always comes back ill. Babaies dont need to be wrapped up in cotton wool, they need to explore the world and all its perils
