Question for moms (a little OT)

[jroche5998]

Re: Question for moms (a little OT)

Very interesting thread.

Although this was directed at Moms, I'll respond anyway. I'm a dad of 5 children, 6, 5, 3, 2, and 1 month. I can't remember the last time we went somewhere without stroller, because we've always had at least one child too young to walk. But all of the older kids walk and hold on to the stroller. They panic if we start to move and they don't have a hand on it, (talk about mental conditioning). But sometimes the older ones will take turns sitiing in the front seat of the stroller (it's a double) to take a break from walking. Plus, as was already said, a place to carry things is very handy. Because otherwise, guess who'd carry it...Dad (see pack-mule in the dictionary).

I took my oldest three by myself to a Wiggles concert a year ago, and I used the wrist leashes. Some people though it was a great idea, some thought I was barbaric. I personally don't care what people think, safety trumps anything else every time.

But my 70lb, 47" 6 year old (not fat, but solid as a rock) sometimes needs a break, and a stroller that he barely fits in can give him that before a complete meltdown occurs.

[Hudson]

Re: Question for moms (a little OT)

Not sure about strollers contributing to childhood obesity. But I am sure the 50+ year old 100+ pounds over weight folks riding around in Wal-Mart on their electric cars full of soda and candy bars - they are making the problem worse.

And I would say we all should encourage a lifestyle of walking when possible in place of a "why walk when you can ride" mentality.

[SandyL2002]

Re: Question for moms (a little OT)

This is an interesting topic... Of course my kids are 14 and 17 so we don't use strollers..but man sometimes I want to...for a place to put stuff...lol

My older one used a stroller until he was probably 2 or so..he was good about sitting in one.. I remember using one at an amusement park around 4 though.. But when my daughter was born he had to get out of the stroller cause I couldn't afford a double back then..

I only used them at certain places...where I needed an extra hand to keep up with them..lol

[How Riveting]

Re: Question for moms (a little OT)

I like the variety of responses here. I can see how a four year old can be borderline, but I still stand by my assertion that a 5 or 6 year old should never be in a stroller. That's just way, way too old to be pushed around. A kid that age can walk, and if they get worn out to the point where they are incapable of walking, maybe it's time to rethink the family activity you planned for the day. Dear God, I cannot fathom the fit I would have thrown if my mom tried to put me in a stroller in the first grade.

Also, I would like to point out that mom (world's greatest mom!) would just go ahead and make me walk back to car, or hold out for another 30 minutes till we were done. She never would have catered to my moods or energy levels to the point of pushing me around in a jumbo stroller. Never. And I survived. I was never hospitalized for "exhaustion" or "dehydration". Kids are much tougher than most people realize.

It just seems like the longer you keep your kid in a stroller, the more and more they'll depend on it. They won't get properly socialized in big crowds or public venues. It will just get worse and worse to ween them off the stroller. They won't toughen up either and learn out to deal with a tiny amount of boredom or exhaustion.

Half of life is learning to "suck it up". I just can't see a 7 year old in a freaking stroller ever learning that lesson well.

Also, and I think I speak for a lot of people when I say this: can everyone with these gigantic strollers please at least TRY and be a little more courteous with them? They take up a HUGE amount of space, and they tend to run into things (namely people) quite easily. Someone pointed this out earlier and it's true: these are the reasons I even started thinking about this. Getting rammed from behind with a 200 pound stroller is one thing, turning around and seeing a 6 year old in the stroller, just takes my rage to a whole new level. Also, I haven't had a carbohydrate in weeks, which also could have had something to do with my annoyance ; )

[Elizellen]

Re: Question for moms (a little OT)

Also, I haven't had a carbohydrate in weeks, which also could have had something to do with my annoyance ; )

Not literally I hope you are having your 'up to 20 net grams, most from your veggies' I hope if you are still on induction?