Where is all of the anxiety coming from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things that shocked me: Kids not walking a mile to school, or in the rain, or in the cold. Families making lunch every single day. Teacher/or child calling from school that the child forgot something at home. Parents routinely standing at the school door, or at the playground, or wherever the closest is they are allowed. School expectation that a parent has free time -during the school/work day- more than rarely. Kiss and Ride .. the idea that parents make this nonsense part of their day. It's not a private school w/no bus service. Use the bus

Parents are wacko. That's why there is so much anxiety.

While I agree kids are too coddled and 99.8% of this “anxiety” is excuse-making or performative bullshit, I find it odd these things “shock” you.

1) My kids walk 3/4 a mile to school. In a group with other kids. Just like I did in 1980. Most kids do.

2) Yeah, we make their lunch. Better than the school lunch. They’re getting themselves ready during this time. So what?

3) Schools generally prohibit calling home for missing items or might allow it once. This was the policy in our LCPS school.

4) No idea what you’re on about regarding standing close to the door. Most kids find their own way home.

5) Whatever are you prattling on about regarding free time during the work day? You aren’t making sense.

6) Kiss and Ride? What?

+1 who are these weirdos equating packed lunch with snow plow parenting. My kid eats a sandwich, apple slices and gold fish every single day. Not fancy at all! But the school provided lunches are something even I as an adult would find hard to eat, and I am one of the least picky adults in my circle. Providing food your kid will eat is basic parenting.

Actually, basic parenting is making your kids responsible for assembling their own lunch.

People who say this only give their kids pre-packaged processed foods for lunch. Which is fine. But if lunch is left overs and fresh foods that need to be portioned out, cut with a sharp knife, put in containers, etc. then an adult needs to do that. A 7-year-old cannot peel and cut chunks of mango nor cut a square of leftover lasagna and put it in a smaller container, not without making an unnecessary mess and causing more work for his parents. Get real.

Kids are fine with a sandwich with ham/turkey and cheese or a hard boiled eggs or cheese and crackers. They can put a piece of fruit in too. A banana, apple, clementine and others don’t require cutting. My kid at a variation of this for years and he made it himself starting in 2nd/3rd grade. He never had hot meals because he wouldn’t be able to heat it up at school. I ate a cheese sandwich every day for at least 6 yrs. Stop making excuses for your kids.

Soooo you’d rather feed your kids processed cheese and deli meats and the same three fruits over and over again, rather than give him a variety of nutritionally balanced meals, all for the sake of making him “responsible”? That is ridiculous to the extreme. Especially bc there are many other kid-appropriate responsibilities that can be given such as daily or weekly chores, keeping their room neat, and helping with cooking (though not doing it all themselves)

I eat them every single day with tuna/egg salad mixed in for some variety. I add in a few other fruits (what is on sale). We are both healthy, not overweight people. We work out a few days per week, take daily walks with the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things that shocked me: Kids not walking a mile to school, or in the rain, or in the cold. Families making lunch every single day. Teacher/or child calling from school that the child forgot something at home. Parents routinely standing at the school door, or at the playground, or wherever the closest is they are allowed. School expectation that a parent has free time -during the school/work day- more than rarely. Kiss and Ride .. the idea that parents make this nonsense part of their day. It's not a private school w/no bus service. Use the bus

Parents are wacko. That's why there is so much anxiety.

While I agree kids are too coddled and 99.8% of this “anxiety” is excuse-making or performative bullshit, I find it odd these things “shock” you.

1) My kids walk 3/4 a mile to school. In a group with other kids. Just like I did in 1980. Most kids do.

2) Yeah, we make their lunch. Better than the school lunch. They’re getting themselves ready during this time. So what?

3) Schools generally prohibit calling home for missing items or might allow it once. This was the policy in our LCPS school.

4) No idea what you’re on about regarding standing close to the door. Most kids find their own way home.

5) Whatever are you prattling on about regarding free time during the work day? You aren’t making sense.

6) Kiss and Ride? What?

+1 who are these weirdos equating packed lunch with snow plow parenting. My kid eats a sandwich, apple [b]slices and gold fish every single day. Not fancy at all! But the school provided lunches are something even I as an adult would find hard to eat, and I am one of the least picky adults in my circle. Providing food your kid will eat is basic parenting.

Actually, basic parenting is making your kids responsible for assembling their own lunch.

People who say this only give their kids pre-packaged processed foods for lunch. Which is fine. But if lunch is left overs and fresh foods that need to be portioned out, cut with a sharp knife, put in containers, etc. then an adult needs to do that. A 7-year-old cannot peel and cut chunks of mango nor cut a square of leftover lasagna and put it in a smaller container, not without making an unnecessary mess and causing more work for his parents. Get real.

This post was so interesting to read. I am from South Africa. A 7-year-old can absolutely cut, peel and portion food. It is cultural not developmental.

100%. I raised my kids in another country and have a picture of my then 4 year old cutting up limes for lemonade at her Montessori school.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s anxious parents, mostly moms. The very large local moms group I’m in is in a frenzy about the start of school. Buying Apple Watches to track kids and putting air tags on all their belongings. Parents are so worried about their kids eating lunch and not getting enough sleep. Anxious posts about buses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things that shocked me: Kids not walking a mile to school, or in the rain, or in the cold. Families making lunch every single day. Teacher/or child calling from school that the child forgot something at home. Parents routinely standing at the school door, or at the playground, or wherever the closest is they are allowed. School expectation that a parent has free time -during the school/work day- more than rarely. Kiss and Ride .. the idea that parents make this nonsense part of their day. It's not a private school w/no bus service. Use the bus

Parents are wacko. That's why there is so much anxiety.

While I agree kids are too coddled and 99.8% of this “anxiety” is excuse-making or performative bullshit, I find it odd these things “shock” you.

1) My kids walk 3/4 a mile to school. In a group with other kids. Just like I did in 1980. Most kids do.

2) Yeah, we make their lunch. Better than the school lunch. They’re getting themselves ready during this time. So what?

3) Schools generally prohibit calling home for missing items or might allow it once. This was the policy in our LCPS school.

4) No idea what you’re on about regarding standing close to the door. Most kids find their own way home.

5) Whatever are you prattling on about regarding free time during the work day? You aren’t making sense.

6) Kiss and Ride? What?

+1 who are these weirdos equating packed lunch with snow plow parenting. My kid eats a sandwich, apple [b]slices and gold fish every single day. Not fancy at all! But the school provided lunches are something even I as an adult would find hard to eat, and I am one of the least picky adults in my circle. Providing food your kid will eat is basic parenting.

Actually, basic parenting is making your kids responsible for assembling their own lunch.

People who say this only give their kids pre-packaged processed foods for lunch. Which is fine. But if lunch is left overs and fresh foods that need to be portioned out, cut with a sharp knife, put in containers, etc. then an adult needs to do that. A 7-year-old cannot peel and cut chunks of mango nor cut a square of leftover lasagna and put it in a smaller container, not without making an unnecessary mess and causing more work for his parents. Get real.

This post was so interesting to read. I am from South Africa. A 7-year-old can absolutely cut, peel and portion food. It is cultural not developmental.

+1. My kids make their own lunches. Sometimes they do eat processed junk, but they love leftovers (which they heat and put in thermoses themselves or with help, depending on the age) and either they eat their fresh fruit whole, have been trained to cut it themselves, or if I haven't trained them to my satisfaction we do it together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s anxious parents, mostly moms. The very large local moms group I’m in is in a frenzy about the start of school. Buying Apple Watches to track kids and putting air tags on all their belongings. Parents are so worried about their kids eating lunch and not getting enough sleep. Anxious posts about buses.

Asking questions about the bus is not a sign of anxiety. Thinking about things is also not anxiety. Obsessing to the point where you can’t function is anxiety. You guys are misusing the term.

[Anonymous]

Their parents are misusing the term. The kids aren’t anxious. That’s the point of this post.

[Anonymous]

Meet them at the bar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things that shocked me: Kids not walking a mile to school, or in the rain, or in the cold. Families making lunch every single day. Teacher/or child calling from school that the child forgot something at home. Parents routinely standing at the school door, or at the playground, or wherever the closest is they are allowed. School expectation that a parent has free time -during the school/work day- more than rarely. Kiss and Ride .. the idea that parents make this nonsense part of their day. It's not a private school w/no bus service. Use the bus

Parents are wacko. That's why there is so much anxiety.

While I agree kids are too coddled and 99.8% of this “anxiety” is excuse-making or performative bullshit, I find it odd these things “shock” you.

1) My kids walk 3/4 a mile to school. In a group with other kids. Just like I did in 1980. Most kids do.

2) Yeah, we make their lunch. Better than the school lunch. They’re getting themselves ready during this time. So what?

3) Schools generally prohibit calling home for missing items or might allow it once. This was the policy in our LCPS school.

4) No idea what you’re on about regarding standing close to the door. Most kids find their own way home.

5) Whatever are you prattling on about regarding free time during the work day? You aren’t making sense.

6) Kiss and Ride? What?

+1 who are these weirdos equating packed lunch with snow plow parenting. My kid eats a sandwich, apple slices and gold fish every single day. Not fancy at all! But the school provided lunches are something even I as an adult would find hard to eat, and I am one of the least picky adults in my circle. Providing food your kid will eat is basic parenting.

Actually, basic parenting is making your kids responsible for assembling their own lunch.

People who say this only give their kids pre-packaged processed foods for lunch. Which is fine. But if lunch is left overs and fresh foods that need to be portioned out, cut with a sharp knife, put in containers, etc. then an adult needs to do that. A 7-year-old cannot peel and cut chunks of mango nor cut a square of leftover lasagna and put it in a smaller container, not without making an unnecessary mess and causing more work for his parents. Get real.

Parents need to give their kids more responsibility, and trust that they're capable. It might be more work for you when they're 7, but it pays off down the road.

Lol, no. My parents made lunches for me until the day I graduated high school. I view that as evidence of their love and caring for me. I am a fully functional adult, never dealt with anxiety, cook dinner 6x a week and make my own children’s lunches every day but pizza day. Sorry but you are off on this one.

I know, this is always such a weird take to me. My parents made us all cook for years to teach us responsibility and now I hate cooking and never do it. On the other hand, my dad took care of my car for years and after I moved I just handled it. People think somehow when you turn 18 you will magically lose the ability to learn rudimentary chores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Things that shocked me: Kids not walking a mile to school, or in the rain, or in the cold. Families making lunch every single day. Teacher/or child calling from school that the child forgot something at home. Parents routinely standing at the school door, or at the playground, or wherever the closest is they are allowed. School expectation that a parent has free time -during the school/work day- more than rarely. Kiss and Ride .. the idea that parents make this nonsense part of their day. It's not a private school w/no bus service. Use the bus

Parents are wacko. That's why there is so much anxiety.

While I agree kids are too coddled and 99.8% of this “anxiety” is excuse-making or performative bullshit, I find it odd these things “shock” you.

1) My kids walk 3/4 a mile to school. In a group with other kids. Just like I did in 1980. Most kids do.

2) Yeah, we make their lunch. Better than the school lunch. They’re getting themselves ready during this time. So what?

3) Schools generally prohibit calling home for missing items or might allow it once. This was the policy in our LCPS school.

4) No idea what you’re on about regarding standing close to the door. Most kids find their own way home.

5) Whatever are you prattling on about regarding free time during the work day? You aren’t making sense.

6) Kiss and Ride? What?

+1 who are these weirdos equating packed lunch with snow plow parenting. My kid eats a sandwich, apple [b]slices and gold fish every single day. Not fancy at all! But the school provided lunches are something even I as an adult would find hard to eat, and I am one of the least picky adults in my circle. Providing food your kid will eat is basic parenting.

Actually, basic parenting is making your kids responsible for assembling their own lunch.

People who say this only give their kids pre-packaged processed foods for lunch. Which is fine. But if lunch is left overs and fresh foods that need to be portioned out, cut with a sharp knife, put in containers, etc. then an adult needs to do that. A 7-year-old cannot peel and cut chunks of mango nor cut a square of leftover lasagna and put it in a smaller container, not without making an unnecessary mess and causing more work for his parents. Get real.

This post was so interesting to read. I am from South Africa. A 7-year-old can absolutely cut, peel and portion food. It is cultural not developmental.

100%. I raised my kids in another country and have a picture of my then 4 year old cutting up limes for lemonade at her Montessori school.

I also grew up in a third world country, but our parents still did these things for us at age 7 even though we were allowed to do a lot of other things. Montessori schools will let your children play with matches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that there are a lot of disregulated parents out there. Recently attended a middle school meeting and the questions being asked by people in their 40s and 50s was astounding. ‘How will my child know which classroom to go to on their own?’ ‘How will they know how to open a locker combination?’ No idea how they have made it this far in the world on their own, let alone parenting. No wonder their kids are anxious.

Lol