I am over protective when it comes to my children.  That is a fact.  I am not ashamed to say it and I don’t care who knows it.  I am the mother of 3 sons and 1 daughter.  I was just as protective over my sons who are grown now, as I am now with my daughter.  I’ve had people express anger towards me over this because they take it personal when I decline invitations on behalf of my kids.  I’ve been known to say, no, I will not  let my child spend the night somewhere that does not feel right to me.  Or, no I will not let my under age child attend an event that has no parental supervision.

In fact, if I don’t feel like your house is clean enough, my child is not staying…  I make no apologies for this.  My job as a mother is to protect my children.  I take my job very seriously.  I am the type that pops up at their school for surprise visits.  I volunteer at their schools as well.  I also monitor my kids, keeping up with what they are doing on and off line.  I am not mad at any parent who is trusting enough to leave their child to spend the night in houses that they have never been in before.  It’s just not the way i choose to do things.  In fact, I am always a little surprised at the number of parents who have dropped their children off  at my house for sleepovers without even bothering to come in and meet my husband and I.

Some say “over protective”, some say “involved”.  I will simply say that I wish that I had someone that protected me when I was a child.  I wish that I had been kept home from some of the houses that I visited.  I wish that someone had monitored us more when I was a kid growing up.  It was a different time back then.  We were what you called , “Latch Key” kids.  Which means we came home to an empty house every day. My mother had to work 2 jobs to support us so we were home alone a lot.  We weren’t the only ones and when you have an entire neighborhood full of kids in the same situation, mischief and inappropriate behavior will ensue.  Times are different now, children are being snatched for sex trafficking, kidnapped, maimed and beaten.  So, yeah, I protect my kids.

There have been times when people have tried to make me feel guilty about my protective nature, but they can say whatever they want.  How many times have we heard the story of the child that was scared to tell when something inappropriate has happened or of the victim being second guessed because there was no one around to witness anything.  It is my job as their mother to protect them.  It is our responsibility as parents to ensure that our children live happy healthy lives and I will always try to provide that for my kids.

Not only that, but I will protect your kids too if I am around them.  I have been known for zipping coats & wiping noses, housing children whose parents are late getting them from the bus stop and watching them all get on/off the bus and across streets safely.  I know that I cannot shield these kids from everything.  But I can certainly watch and be aware.  After all, every kid should have a chance to actually be a kid and enjoy their childhood.  My own childhood was interrupted.  Never will I have to apologize to my child for not paying attention to or protecting them.

BMWK – Do you feel that you can be too protective of your children?