Parenting disagreement...need opinions...?

Question

My hubby and I are having a disagreement. Yesterday my 6yo kept putting a bouncy ball (about the size of a quarter) in her mouth. After telling her to take it out twice (and having her put it back in her mouth minutes later), I had her throw it away. She threw a tantrum, and when she was done we sat and talked about WHY I had her throw it away. I explained to her about what could happen if it lodged in her throat, or worse, if her 11mo brother followed her example and put it is his mouth. My husband doesn't think it should have been tossed in the garbage. What do you think?

Answer 1

I think you did a good thing by having "her" throw it away. It will teach her that if she doesn't listen to the rules she will lose. That's a good life lesson. I think you did a great job. It's only a bouncy ball too. It's not like your 6 yr old kept turning on and off the TV and then you threw the TV out :)

Stick to your guns! You taught your child a valuable lesson- and you are totally right- what if it got stuck in her throat!

Answer 2

I don't think you are wrong at all by throwing it in the garbage, especially since it seemed like an inexpensive toy. I'm all for this type of "parenting." Maybe next time have her put it in a high place where it is still visible to her so she realizes she still has it, but it's not going to come down for a week because she could not play with the toy properly. Sounds like you're doing great! Your husband still might not be able to deal with tantrums from his little princess, too. I know my husband can't stand it when ours' throws a tantrum. Good luck!

Answer 3

You did the right thing by throwing it away. You have to show her that you mean business when you tell her stop doing something that could harm her or her brother.

Throwing a tantrum should not be tolerated either. I did not allow my children to show any signs of a tantrum. It did not happen at home so therefore, I did not have to worry about it happening out in public and it didn't.

I would not run out and buy her another one until they get older if the ball was that small.

Your husband need to see that what she was doing was harmful and getting another ball later on is no problem. . . . .getting another child who has choked on something that could have been eliminated in the first place is really big problem for everyone.

STAY STRONG and don't cave in, that won't be the last time you will have to show your daughter who is the parent and who she is going to listen too. As long as you get them on the right path while they are young, by the time they become teenagers, you will have an easier time. Don't tolerate one word of back talk,(even at the age of 6) if you do, you are setting yourself up for chaos and misery during those teenage years and you won't be able to tell her anything.

Remember to be her parent not her friend. When little brother learn the ropes of being obedient and what will not be tolerated, he will be easy to raise. He will learn during his growing years by watching what the older sibling can and cannot do.

Always discipline with love. There are going to be times when they are going to talk into buying them something but in order to have pretty good, mannerable, and respectful children, it starts at home with consistent discipline and consequences for their wrong actions.

I loved being a mom because I was up for the challenges.

Answer 4

I agree with you all the way! These balls are dangerous, not only because of a choking hazard, but they can bounce up into the eye. Your little boy is watching even when you don't realize it and he might want to put it in his mouth. Your husband needs to just accept that sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry. The ball poses a hazard to both of your children and you did right by just getting rid of it. If you throw it away, then that is one less worry. Stick to your instincts!

Answer 5

I would have been telling her to throw it away after the first time. Being as she has a baby brother who WILL emulate her, there should not have been such an obvious choking toy in the house to begin with. (Was it your husband's purchase?) Just be thankful you have never experienced the heart stopping terror of having a child choke before your eyes. I have, and it destroys part of your soul to know that your carelessness almost took your child away from you.

Maybe your husband needs a good swift kick upside the head. He either learns now, the responsibilities of raising children, or he learns after something has actually happened, and you divorce him for his stupidity!

Answer 6

I think you did the right thing you taught her a good lesson which is when mommy tells u to stop doing something you stop or there will be consequences.If you do that everytime she will be able to pretty much predict what is going to happen and most likely stop when you tell her to.

Answer 7

i think u did a good job. maybe to make ur husband happy u couldd've just put away until she was older. my mom never alows any small toys in the house until the baby is old enough not to put everything in their mouth.

Answer 8

It seems that you have good communication with your 6yo, it also appears that she can understand your (WHY)... the tandrum is/was normal in fact i would like to do that (its good for the belly).

when you threw it away you might have passed up the oppertunity for your 6yo to grow in the area of responsibility..

How often it is true that we learn from our mistakes//with that be watchful

Answer 9

i think you taught her a lesson...
you might discuss it with her some more and possibly let her earn another bouncy ball as long as she can be responsible with it and follow the rules, or she will loose it.
ask her how she would feel if something may happen to her little brother? she would definantely be sad, just remind her of that.

Answer 10

Yes it should have been thrown out. Safety is always first. If a child is not listening and safety is on the line than you need to take a stand. Safety first.