"It was not on the table for guests to grab, like the other snacks, but guests could easily see it. One of the guests wandered over, selected a peach and handed it to her toddler. The toddler then marched around the house eating a dripping peach. He dropped it on the carpet, leaving a visible smear of sticky juice, and the parent picked up the peach, washed it, and then handed it back to the toddler."
"You think the parents did not notice, but if the goo cleanup was as dramatic as you say, it may simply have embarrassed them. Either way, it underlined the rudeness being committed without providing a solution. If, instead, you had taken a peach, removed the pit and cut a bite-sized slice for the child all while engaging the parent in witty conversation you would have charmed the parent, immobilized the child and prevented further damage to the house,"
Hosts prepared by childproofing the home, moving breakables out of reach, providing toys and snacks, and accepting the likelihood of post-visit cleanup. A visiting parent took a peach from a visible fruit bowl and handed it to a toddler who ate it while dripping juice, then repeatedly dropped the fruit, leaving sticky stains on the carpet. The host cleaned the marks during the visit and felt unable to confront the parents. Social restraint about intervening between parents and children can be counterproductive. A discreet, proactive intervention such as cutting a bite-sized slice and involving the parent can calm the child, prevent further damage, and placate the parents.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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