Terry,
It might very well be that this child is in the middle of the Terrible
Two's and Three's... Some kids that age refuse to keep their shoes & socks
on & throw fits when you try to get them to wear them. Same with
coats, hats and boots. I personally like the theory of "natural
consequences parenting" to avoid power struggles with my kids. - You
don't wear your shoes, your feet get cold. Maybe next time you'll wear
your shoes. The kid learns the lesson on their own, and it sinks in
better. Since the older child was dressed appropriately, I would assume
the little ones clothes were in the car.
That being said, I believe it's against health codes to go barefoot in a
restaurant. And if you saw the family was walking from blocks away with the
little one this way I'd express concern. But on this evidence alone I'd
hardly conclude neglect.
Cherisa Templeton
Cherisa
>From: Terry Angst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: online democracy <
[email protected]>
>Subject: [Winona] what to do
>Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:16:34 -0600
>
>[Winona Online Democracy]
>
>So, Wednesday evening, I'm waiting for a take out order at a
local
>eatery, and in walks a girl of about 6 years, dressed in a
snowsuit,
> boots and parka over her head. Behind her is her
younger sister,
>about 3 years old, wearing jeans, a long sleeve
shirt and no shoes
>or socks. Then, a male an female come in, apparently parents or
at
>least guardians, at this time anyway. They appear to be 17 or
so.
>One of them remarks something to the effect that "oh look,
she's
>shivering." (Not violently) It is 23 degrees outside at this
time.
>
>I can't believe what I'm seeing. I wanted to hold her feet in
my
>hands and warm them up and have a discussion with the older two
but,
>I didn't. When my order was given to me, I mentioned to that
person
>that the young girl had no shoes on. This was an adult woman
that
>appeared to be of at least normal intelligence and she said,
"oh
>they always run around without shoes."
>
>What should I have done?
>
>Terry Angst
>
>
>
>
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