Shannon Watts asked, and then received... a major burn.
In today's SSN (Shan Shan News), we find Shannon Watts shaming advice columnist, Amy Dickinson, better known as, Asking Amy, over her response to a reader needing advice. (Y'all get ready to laugh or roll your eyes... or both!)
An individual who goes by Concerned Parent, reached out to Amy for some parenting advice, because they were concerned about an issue that many of us newer parents tend to face at some point in parenthood: In-Laws being extra with the grandkids.
Before you have a stroke... I don't care who you are. At some point, if you're married (or not) with kids... your in-laws, or even your own parents, are going to overstep the boundaries YOU have set for your children... if not those you set for yourself. (If it's not happened yet... just wait.) I was once one of those new moms who said, "My mother/ mother/ father-in-law would NEVER defy my wishes," too.
Reality is a bitch, sometimes, y'all, but in regard to Amy's reader, they had an honest reason for concern that many of us parents of young children have:
DEAR AMY: Seven months ago, my-in-laws took my not-quite 5-year-old child for an overnight, and broke the one rule that my spouse and I set for our child’s time with them: NOT to ride their ATV. We do not feel it is safe, particularly on public roads. We reminded them of this rule as they were leaving for the outing. Immediately upon their return, our child spontaneously shared that they had ridden the ATV, including on the roads.
My in-laws did not apologize, nor acknowledge wrongdoing. They believe it is safe and within their rights to make that decision.
But then the inquirer took the question and worry even further...
An additional concern I have is that they have unsecured firearms in their home and refuse to get a gun safe to lock their weapons. I believe that two matters show very poor judgment on their part, and that my young child is not safe in their care. I don’t feel that my in-laws are trustworthy, they don’t respect us as the parents, and they have poor judgment in regard to safety. My spouse is more inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt, despite these and other differences.
Your take?
- Concerned Parent
Not going to lie, there, either. This concerned parent has every right to worry. I grew up with firearms. They were everywhere. My dad, not only was he a law enforcement officer, he was a good ol farm boy and an avid hunter. Firearms were a part of our lifestyle. I had a gun in my hands before I could spell my name... which is ONLY four letters. My mother, a "City girl," folks called her Annie Oakley because she happened to be a quicker and better shot than my dad. (Still is)
When I became a parent, I had the SAME anxieties this reader of Amy's is having. I still do.
Whenever my kid is with a relative that I know has things like firearms in the home, I tend to feel nervous about it as well... and I'm a firearms instructor and 2A advocate. I stress constantly when my son is not in my immediate sights, because for one, I know my kid. He's MY child... meaning, he's nosy as hell. Fortunately, since I am a firearms instructor... an actual gun safety advocate... I not only work with my child to understand safety around "could be/ would be" dangerous items, I communicate with those that step up to care for him when I am not around. I got passed reaching out to strangers for parenting advice (no offense Amy) and just bucked up as a parent and told my relatives (grandparents, especially) that when my son is in their care, they are to be even more aware of where his little nose and hands end up. They are to not only know where his attention is going, but also where (not only) their firearms are, but their knives, forks, vehicle keys, medications, electronics, tools, etc... are as well. It's called PROACTIVE PARENTING.
Now, before we get to Amy's response to this inquirer of hers, let's see what Shan Shan and her Commie Mommies are pissed about...
Just the mention of the NRA, Shannon Watts gets triggered. How DARE Amy mention their name!?! The audacity, Amy! Geeze!