IT’S a tricky situation to be in as a parent – do you discipline other people’s children when they’re not around?
Some parents might swear they’d never do it and would rage if anyone tried to tell their little angels off, but Zoe Hardman isn’t one of them.
The Heart FM DJ Zoe Hardman discussed the controversial topic along with friend and PR pro Georgia Dayton on their podcast, Made by Mammas, where they chat all things motherhood and solve dilemmas from other parents.
In a recent episode one mum wrote in to ask how she should handle her friends not discipling their kids, and Zoe got right to business as she admitted she “loved” the question.
Zoe admitted that whenever she drops her own kids off for playdates she’ll let the other parent know they can discipline them, since she won’t be there.
The mum admitted she’s “really hot” on stuff like saying please and thank you, as well as other basic manners, so has no problem with her kids being pulled up on it.
And it goes the other way too, the mum added.
She explained: “At the same time I’ll always say ‘if anything goes wrong here I’m going to come down on [your kids] and I’ll report back.’
“I’m a bit of a stickler for that because I won’t have someone else kid coming into my house and trashing it.”
In fact, Zoe admitted she once had a kid come of to her house who ended up breaking one of her kids’ Christmas presents “on purpose”.
According to the mum, they “smashed it, snapped it, and thew it and stamped on it.”
“I just couldn’t believe it,” Zoe said, before admitting she went “straight to the mum and had that conversation with them.”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Supernanny Jo Frost reveals where ‘naughty step’ idea came from & insists it still works wonders for ‘aggressive’ kids” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6364986391112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]After sharing the podcast clip on social media, one user agreed they will discipline other people’s kids, but only if it’s a must.
They commented: “I will always discipline with good intentions in mind, but I also don’t wanna be that moany depressing mum.
“I’m trying to find the balance but don’t know what that looks like currently.”
Replying to the comments, the Made By Mamma account wrote: “It’s definitely hard to know when to discipline and when not to especially when it’s a friend’s kids.”
Previously, Zoe admitted she sometimes struggles with the “thankless task” of raising her children, and has called for more recognition for the role mums play in society.
“Currently on the floor, I know I’m capable of lots and I’m a good mum, but it’s a thankless task, both from family, day to day and society as a whole”, she told broadcaster Zoe Hardman and Georgia Dayton on their podcast Made By Mammas.
“More recognition for stay at home mums would help self-worth, as we don’t get it from anywhere else.”
“Stay at home mums have the hardest job in the world”, Zoe said, agreeing with the mum’s sentiment.
Zoe said that society should focus on stay at home mums having the most important job, and realise how brilliant and hardworking they are.
This way, stay at home mums wouldn’t be battling with their self-worth, she said.
Georgia added that stay at home mums have no breaks, and aren’t able to take time for themselves.
“So many people think that they can’t ask for help, because you don’t have to have the child care, but you do”, she said.
You really need a break, being a stay at home mum is more than a full time job, and so therefore you do need to allow yourself little breaks.”
“You’re not a robot, I completely agree with you”, Zoe echoed.