Christmas with the family

@CRIVAS (1815)
Canada
November 26, 2009 12:51pm CST
As I am sure everyone knows, Christmas is fast approaching. Every year my family andI get together to celebrate the festivities. Our family is a big one ans usually there aren't any problems when we go to my mom's for the holidays, however last year things changed a bit. There are usually a lot of rowdy children around (which isn't bad cause my girls love to play) however last year things got a little out of hand. My children are the youngest in the bunch and as such they aren't allowed to dosome of the same things that the other children are allowed to do. For example we had issues about what the children were allowed to watch on the tv, my girls want to be with the other children, but I don't let them watch the same shows mainly because of the violence or language. It wasn't too bad once i explained why the girls weren't allowed to watch the shows, and everything settled down. Later though things once again got out of hand. While the children were playing, they were being a little ruff and my girls got hurt. I then had to explain that my girls were not used to playing like that and that I needed them to be a little more careful around the girls. Fine, they settled down. However that was not the end of the trouble. Later that same night I had to have a talk with my aunt because her 5 year old was swearing around my girls. She was very upset cause she didn't like the things that her son was saying and she was embarrased that he had taught my daughters to say some pretty naughty things. Now this year I am worried that this will happen again. I don't say bad words in front of my children because I don't want them teaching the other kids they play with how to say those things. I am also careful as I mentioned, about what they are allowed to watch. I don't want to seem like one of those parents that is always picking on the children because of what they are doing, but at the same time I don't want my kids picking up bad habits because of the way that the other childre are behaving. So here is what I need to know: What would you do? How would you make sure that everyone has a good time, but behaves around your children as well? Would you talk to the parents ahead of time? Would you talk to the children? Or should I just leave things well enough alone and see what happens? I could really use some advice, I'm really not sure what to do this holiday season.
1 response
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
26 Nov 09
Hi, Crivas, I think I can understand your feeling, though I haven't got any children yet, but that's what my mother used to do many years ago when I was younger. I believe you're a good parent by not letting your children learn anything bad in their younger age, and I think it is your basic instinct as a parent to protect your children from being hurt or adapting misbehavior. In my country it is not common to say so assertively to people about what they should have done to their children. The parenting style in families is sometimes being something quite sensitive to be talked about, and we don't want to be offensive by telling people how to teach their children. But parents in my country are usually talk to their children about how to behave, and give them the ability and the knowledge to filter information and behaviors. Well, I think you need to be confident about you and your children, Crivas. Be sure that you have taught your kids the right thing, and trust that your kid is a good kid who wouldn't do things you told them not to do. Good luck, I hope you would have a happy holiday this year.