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In reply to the discussion: Adults that spoil kids aggravate me [View all]pnwmom
(108,978 posts)She was the new second wife of an uncle. (I could hardly call her an aunt.)
My three children were all on their best behavior, as was I, but I did make one mistake. I didn't think to tell my 6 year old son that the rules of the uncle's house might be different now with the new wife. So when he opened the refrigerator door to look for milk (we had encouraged him to be self-sufficient), she got very upset.
The next time there was a family gathering with a bunch of cousins, she insisted that none of the children were allowed inside, EVER. This was over the course of a few hours including a meal served on picnic tables. When my son told me he had to go to the bathroom, I took him by the hand and started to lead him inside. One of the other mothers stopped me to remind me that our kids weren't supposed to be inside. I told her I was sure that there was an exception for a child who needed to use the bathroom, but she disagreed. I took my son inside anyway. I was confident that the uncle's wife wouldn't object to my son using the bathroom. I didn't think the other mother's solution -- allowing her sons to relieve themselves in the side yard -- was the better choice.