PatrickGSR94
PatrickGSR94 said:
Unfortunately I mentioned this topic to my wife the other day, and she practically went ballistic, saying kids running barefoot is extremely dangerous and irresponsible as a parent. She argues that kids don't watch where they're going and are bound to step on broken glass or a bee or something.
She basically said I was stupid for allowing our son to walk around the neighborhood barefoot with me back during the warmer months, even though I watched out for any hazards on the ground for him. *sigh*
Here's the deal; your wife has a few things right. For example, she's right, kids don't watch where they are going.
They don't watch where their legs are going, but more importantly, they don't watch where their heads are going. Seriously, kids run into poles, each other, fall over and hit their heads on the ground all the time if they are having fun and playing. If you're not around other kids much, have her spend some time watching kids at a playground. Even with all that safer equipment, kids find a way to 'explore.'
Well, are you going to put a helmet on a child every time that child wants to play outside? Yes? Okay, how about inside? With non padded walls and even a modest amount of furniture, kids find a way to get rough and run into things.
And what about sandals? You can get poked pretty badly with sandals.
Or is it only steel toed shoes?
My point is that kids get themselves into a little bit of trouble all the time, and you can either be hung up about it, imho, or let them do some reasonable exploring (which they will do eventually whether you allow it or not).
Anyhow, good luck with that though. Hard to convince a spouse of anything if you happen to be the other spouse. And that goes in both directions.