Anonymous wrote:My DS is nearly two and extremely energetic and athletic. He can be aggressive with other children and I am constantly on guard to that. Yesterday in the library playroom, DS was throwing light weight hollow, plastic blocks - they could not possibly hurt anyone if he hit them and he has a surprisingly good aim and wasn't close to hitting anyone with them anyway. Of course I fully intended to pick up the blocks when DS was done.

A nanny turned to me and said, "You have to do something about him." I had no idea what to say!!! I was speechless. I went over and picked up DS and left.

So seriously, who was out of line here?

Pfft that's nothing. My 18 month old daughter got a black eye Friday running at a toy duck in the Barnes and noble the same toue another girl was. Quick and BOOM!

Just keep the throwing stuff down I public, good habits. Then there's only the crazy stuff to worry about.

The nanny was nice. I would have reported you and hoped you couldn't come back. You need to control your kid in public. You throw NOTHING.

Seriously, you can't be that stupid. Or maybe you are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you were wrong. Also you sound a little nuts calling your two year old "athletic". I encourage you not to say that in real life.

But he "has surprisingly good aim" and his athletic pursuits should be encouraged no matter what. Just my like son who will probably be an Olympic Wrestler. Don't worry OP, even though my son is "really athletic" as well, he only will take down your son if they are on padded mats. The world does revolve around our athletic kids, others need to get used to it; so I can't believe how rude the nanny was. It was probably the same one who had the nerve to yell at me for texting when my high energy son was pushing other kids down on a padded mat. It was like she hadn't ever seen a padded mat before.

Ha ha. Nicely done.

Anonymous wrote:OP you were wrong. Also you sound a little nuts calling your two year old "athletic". I encourage you not to say that in real life.

But he "has surprisingly good aim" and his athletic pursuits should be encouraged no matter what. Just my like son who will probably be an Olympic Wrestler. Don't worry OP, even though my son is "really athletic" as well, he only will take down your son if they are on padded mats. The world does revolve around our athletic kids, others need to get used to it; so I can't believe how rude the nanny was. It was probably the same one who had the nerve to yell at me for texting when my high energy son was pushing other kids down on a padded mat. It was like she hadn't ever seen a padded mat before.

The nanny could have been friendlier. But the thing is, sometimes with behavior like that, all it takes is one little kid doing it, and then suddenly there are a bunch of other kids in the mix who think it's the funniest thing to be throwing blocks around. And maybe one little kid throwing soft blocks far away from anyone else is okay, but when a bunch of kids get the idea and begin hurling them, it's mayhem. I wouldn't be too offended and I don't think it needed to be a confrontation. She's just probably a blunt person and you and your child just happened to be in her path this time around.

Also... I would just like to remark that for everyone who thinks her child is extraordinarily active and rambunctious, spirited and so forth, it's possible that you are right, but it is also possible that it is the fact that you rather consistently do not intervene and help direct your child to behave appropriately, both at home and in public, that is the major difference. And yes, it's tiring when they're very young, but that stage doesn't last forever and it pays off tenfold when they are older. (I am not extraordinarily strict. I would not have removed my child in that situation, not immediately: I would instead have gone over and said, "I'm going to build a tractor! VROOM VROOM! Where's the barn? Can you build the barn?" or something similar, for a young child or one who is especially defiant. Someone a little more easygoing could also hear the message, "We don't throw things in the playroom," without hearing, "THROW THINGS IN THE PLAYROOM!" )

I's still like to know how OP knew this woman was the nanny and not the mother or grandmother...

Hollow plastic blocks hurt when they hit someone. How do you not know that? Toys are not to be thrown either. Throwing toys shows a disrespect for them and is something that children should be educated on very very early. The way we treat our toys reflects on how much we respect our things, other peoples things and in return ourselves and others. Children obviously need to act out and throw things - but they can throw appropriate things like balls, stones into a river or lake, leaves into the air, maybe pillows in a mutual pillow fight etc. Plastic blocks are not to be thrown and you should have educated your child on that.

The nanny probably came across as rude because your child was most likely throwing the blocks for quite a while and she was giving you time to parent. You did not, so the nanny said something. You were in the wrong, you were in a public area, not your home.

Anonymous wrote:If I was in that situation I really would have liked to hear what the nanny suggested, not just that I needed to "do something." I welcome help on difficult situations, especially if the person has lots of experience.

What "difficult situation?" I have a hard time believing you'd be helpless to get your kid to stop throwing blocks. Worst case scenario, you pick him up and leave. Really, when your child is misbehaving your go-to is hoping a nanny steps in to tell you what to do?

Anonymous wrote:OP you were wrong. Also you sound a little nuts calling your two year old "athletic". I encourage you not to say that in real life.

If he were that athletic, she would have him in a sports or gym program. She probably allowed it as she was looking for a reaction and when she got one, got upset and is now posting for validation. Instead of realizing that she was inappropaite and should of removed her child from the situation on, she continued to let it go on. The nanny sounds great and cared that he may hurt himself or another child spoke up appropiately. This is normal two years old behavior. But, it is not normal for a parent not to care, place other kids at risk and have a relaxed attitude as to say, hey, they were not hard box so if he hits someone, they will be fine. She would not have been happy if another child hit hers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious what OP's reaction would have been if the nanny had said something like, "Could you please stop your son from throwing blocks? I'm worried he'll hit someone. Thank you."

I would have said exactly what the nanny said. Is that acceptable because I am the mother and not the "domestic"?

You're missing the point. The OP sounded offended by the nanny's rudeness. I'm wondering if the nanny wasn't rude** in her request, would she have still had a problem? Was it simply someone -- nanny or not -- making a request -- rude or not -- that she took issue with?

**obviously this is open to interpretation

NP, then why was it necessary for OP to identify her as the nanny?

Anonymous wrote:My DS is nearly two and extremely energetic and athletic. He can be aggressive with other children and I am constantly on guard to that. Yesterday in the library playroom, DS was throwing light weight hollow, plastic blocks - they could not possibly hurt anyone if he hit them and he has a surprisingly good aim and wasn't close to hitting anyone with them anyway. Of course I fully intended to pick up the blocks when DS was done.

A nanny turned to me and said, "You have to do something about him." I had no idea what to say!!! I was speechless. I went over and picked up DS and left.

So seriously, who was out of line here?

All the more reason to be vigilant about what behavior is acceptable in particular situations. My son likes to throw, too. But has never been "aggressive" with other children. Either way, I still wouldn't let him throw blocks in a room full of other kids.

OP you were wrong. Also you sound a little nuts calling your two year old "athletic". I encourage you not to say that in real life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious what OP's reaction would have been if the nanny had said something like, "Could you please stop your son from throwing blocks? I'm worried he'll hit someone. Thank you."

I would have said exactly what the nanny said. Is that acceptable because I am the mother and not the "domestic"?

You're missing the point. The OP sounded offended by the nanny's rudeness. I'm wondering if the nanny wasn't rude** in her request, would she have still had a problem? Was it simply someone -- nanny or not -- making a request -- rude or not -- that she took issue with?

**obviously this is open to interpretation

No one else was probably over there as they were concerned about your child throwing the blocks and hurting their child. Good for the nanny to speak up. This isn't your home. Its a public place. If your child needs to get out energy, the library is not the place to be.