Would You Have Allowed Stranger to Borrow a Sled Your Chilren Were Using It?

I totally agree with you. I would have said no, sorry but the kids are using it. It is obvious that the kids are having fun in the sled so this man was very rude by even asking. If his kids wanted to play in the snow they could either go to the store and get one, or built a snow man, or make a snow ball fight between them etc, there are many options that don't include bothering other people out of their fun. He could also just say no to his kids and that's that.

People are just ridiculous. All the other moms covered this well. I would have given them a big old "are you serious?"

I'd say depending upon the circumstances I would act accordingly. If it happened as you've indicated NO way would I have agreed to that. However, I know friends of mine were taking a trip to New York to visit family over Christmas break. They searched everywhere locally to purchase a sled and none of the stores had any. They had to order online and have shipped to New York. If the parent said hey there. We've been searching everywhere for a sled and everyone is sold old. Would it be possible for my kids to play with your kids and share. Then yes I would invite them to be included and present it as a teaching moment for my kids to make new friends and share. But if they came at me like I owed it to them then nope sorry about your luck.

I agree with you, people should supply thier own items. What would have happened if your friend let that man's kids use the sled and they broke it, do you think he would have made it right with your friend??
When we had new neighbors move in next door to us, the dad of the family noticed that we had two picnic tables in our back yard and said, "hey, I see you have two picnic tables, we don't have one, wouldn't it be great if you gave us one for my kids?". I was stunned. To be honest with you, we were storing a picnic table for my husband's mom who had just moved, so one of the tables wasn't even ours. When I nicely told the neighbor that it wasn't mine to offer he became VERY put off and said that I was a terribly rude neighbor.

I'm probably hypocritical about this but if he asked in the way it is coming off in your post (like I OWED it to him) I wouldn't have let him use it. If I saw his kids trying to play in the snow and they seemed nice and polite I probably would offer. That entitlement/you are responsible for me attitude is irritating to me.

Dear M.-

As the mom of 7 (in 7 years) I cannot tell you the # of times when I was out with my brood...and people just 'assumed' it was me and a gaggle of misc. kids...Perhaps this gentleman assumed it was a 'random' group of kids taking turns on 'community' sleds?

I, personally would have invited them to join...and use it as a teachable moment. AND...I know with my gang...they would have enjoyed sharing with 'non' sibs MUCH more than with each other!! lol

Take Care
Michele/cat

I'm with you here, but i'm not scared to say no to people when it concerns my child. :-)

"Sorry, we're using them right now. I'm pretty sure the toy store/ 5dollar store/Walgreens down the street sells them if you need to get one for your kids."

t.

In this day and age you have to think about one other thing - liability. What if his kids got hurt on her sled?

This happens often at the park when we are playing with a ball on one of the mini basketball courts. Even if we only have 1 ball and every other court is wide open, parents of toddlers will try to force us to give their baby a turn. I tell them "This is a large, hard basketball and it will hurt if it hits your child. Plus, these kids are using their ball and playing a game. They are not waching out for babies."

We have had moms stand by their child after stealing a ball and not give the ball back or apologize. One M. even kept telling us "He wants your ball. He saw your ball and doesn't have one here so he wants your ball." I told her "We are using the ball and he is too young to safely play with us."

If we use swings and there are several others open kids will sometimes come over and ask to use the two swingswe are taking turns on. I point to the adjacent swings and to the swings on the other side of the playground and say "Hey, there are some swings open right there. We are using these."

I was pretty surprised the first couple of times, but now I am annoyed at the "entitlement" attitude as someone said and the lazy parenting. If my child threw a fit at the park, we would leave and not come back for a long time. I would never go ask someone to give up their toy to my child. I would also not encourage my child to stand behind swings being used when there are 3 or more right there not being used.

One 8 or 9 year old girl kept following us and as soon as my child got on something she would say "I would like a turn on that now." We kept leaving and going to different stations. When I began pushing my child on one of the tire swings, she asked within maybe 20 seconds. I said "We just got on here and when she is finished with her turn, you are next." When we finished, about 4 minutes later, I said "Now it is your turn." We walked off and she did not get on the swing. I told my daughter to follow me. We got a drink and went back to the tire swing and she came back again. I told her it was our turn again now and it was going to be a long one. She left. Her M. was right there hearing and seeing everything. I used to push kids whose moms were too lazy to push them, but it took away from my child so I no longer do this. Plus, it helps enable the bad parents to not interact with their own children.
*I am all for sharing in appropriate situations and we do sometimes invite kids to join in and play with us as long as they follow the rules and play safely. I do not allow kids to come over and start keeping the ball from my or my friend's kids as it is our ball.

What the????? I would have most definitely told him sorry, no. What nerve it took to do that!!!! And wow-that is a major lack of mohijos on your friend to let him take the sled. She essentially put this stranger before her kids. I don't know...sometimes it is so hard for me to understand how women can be so meek-esp when it comes to their kids. I am just not built that way.

I would of politely said sorry but I have 7 kids with me we are using them. On the other hand it teaches the kids to think of others. So it could be a positive learning experience. Your friend sounds nice. Maybe the man was poor ...or possible not good manners. Where I live everyone has sleds but we live in a colder climate. Its not up to your friend to give up her sled.

I think I am still in shock that someone would ask when clearly the kids were using them and already more than 1 kid per sled. I likely would have looked at the man like he was crazy and said when my kids are done yours can have a turn, but I wouldn't have made them share when they were alrady sharing with their siblings.

I agree with you 100%. I might have said, "if we finish, we will let you borrow it, maybe you can find a trashcan lid".....

Nope. I wouldn't have let them use it. I remember over the summer we were at the beach. Some kid walked up and started using all my daughters and my friends daughters sand toys. This kids parents were no where in sight. He kept coming up using the stuff. Maybe an hour later this kids dad comes from out of nowhere and tells the kid it is time to go and to grab his bucket! We were like oh no you don't! That's our stuff!!! People sure do have some nerve. From now on, write your initials on all your things in permanent marker and share with no one!!! :)

All you had to say was "no". BUT, lots of people would have said "yes". And thats why people ask. "Ask and it shall be given to you".. a lot of people live by that rule and it works for them. They ask until they find someone that will lend over what they want. Are they brazen? I dont know about that. My tenants who are very poor are not afraid to ask me for all sorts of stuff... a stamp, an envelope, to copy something for them, to fax something for them, they'll even ask me if I can pay their rent and they'll pay me back later.. lol. Those that arent afraid to ask will often times receive. It is okay to say no tho and its also ok to say yes when you want to as well.

I would have said No. We are using them, sorry. If they want to sled, they could go buy their own or rent one. But it was their sleds and the fact that they had all of the kids using them, that wasn't fair for them to have to share with people they don't even know!

M

Brazen maybe - it might also be that the stranger has limited funds, and uses them to provide lunches for kids rather than buying sleds. I agree that the stranger's logic that the kids had more than one has no bearing on the matter whatsoever, but it IS possible that some parents cannot afford to buy things like balls, sleds and razor scooters.