Matching Mother/Son . . .

[carolina_yankee]

We encountered this ineresting parent/child pair at the Block Party Bash at DHS, and then spotted them at nearly every other park we visited!

Mom staked out area to view Bash on bench. She was dressed in lavender checkered sun dress - then we discovered that he 3 y.o son had exactly matching outfit! There was about 8 feet between bench and parade line. As people gathered in front of her, she would start to shout out (still sitting) "I can't see, I can't see!" (Never mind this is 20 minutes before the parade begins.)

When the parade begins, she jumps up angrily, and pushes her way to the front of the line, dragging son who will put therapist's children through college with her. One of the parade actors tries to toss ball to son. Son ignores it, so parade actor smiles, wave, takes ball and moves on. Mom tells (!) actor to come back - Mom takes ball and tosses it to son. Son starts crying - Mom tries to put ball in son's hand. Son wants nothing to do with it. Parade actor gracefully tries to retreat from family drama. Mom's manufactured Kodak living color magic moments (or whatever it's called), totally not going to happen.

Then, next day, we see same pair at MK in matching green checkered sun dresses (mom) and jumper (boy). Then, next day at Epcot - yellow. Yikes!!

Dirk

[Pumpkinboy]

Oh that poor little boy!!! Therapist bills indeed!

[NYDVC]

REALLY sad.

[Hallfamily4]

Oh my!!

[glypnirsgirl]

I wonder if this is the same boy I saw with a Cinderella dress over his jumper at Akershus on Sunday. He was about 5 and had beautiful blonde hair. I did not see any parents around.

[Pumpkinboy]

I wonder if this is the same boy I saw with a Cinderella dress over his jumper at Akershus on Sunday. He was about 5 and had beautiful blonde hair. I did not see any parents around.Actually, a Cinderella dress would not be so bad, unless the mom was also wearing one. It's the over-controliing parent, whose outfit he matched every day that would have me concerned. I've known plenty of little boys who have played dress-up when they were little who have become well-adjusted teens and adults. It's the ones with the controlling parents who eventually need the therapy.

[disneylover27]

Seriously, is she trying to ruin this child's life? I fee bad for that poor boy.

[harmrose22]

I just about gave DH a heart attack when I read this to him... I think he thought I was trying to get matching outfits for me and DS!!!! I mean seriously, I buy the kid one pair of plaid shorts and suddenly we are in matching checkered outfits... NO WAY!

On the serious side... that poor kid. The outfit alone will scar him for life and the rest of it... geesh lady, chill out.

[beaskelly]

Oh my! I feel sorry for the little boy. If it is a girl I think I don't mind it. Because sometimes, we match shirts but it is Mickey for boys and Minnie for girls. At least, my little boy and little girl love Mickey and Minnie so they don't mind at all... Actually my son has 6 different Mickey T-shirts and he loves to wear it.

[AFMom]

Hmmmm,,,, Narcicistic Personality Disorder comes to mind..... poor kid. What a nightmare!

[carolina_yankee]

I wonder if this is the same boy I saw with a Cinderella dress over his jumper at Akershus on Sunday. He was about 5 and had beautiful blonde hair. I did not see any parents around.

:holymoly:

And I thought what I saw was frightening! I bet it was. He did look cute when he wasn't terrified.

:rolleyes:

[disneyfreak89]

Lavender, green and yellow OH MY!!!! :hahahaha:

[JimP]

Lavender, green and yellow OH MY!!!! :hahahaha:
I guess you missed him the next day when they went to AK wearing pink.

/Jim

[NorweJenNY]

Ok, I clearly wasn't paying attention at first... I just thought parent-CHILD in matching outfits and thought, what's wrong with that? They can find each other easily if they break apart for a moment in the crowds...

Then I got it... a boy in LAVENDAR? ...and a JUMPER? If the kid ever goes to public school, he WILL be coming home in tears every day!

I'm in shock.

[beaskelly]

I guess you missed him the next day when they went to AK wearing pink.

/Jim

Oh boy! I just could not imagine if I let my 4 year old son wearing pink. He always said pink is for girls and not for boys... LOL. He will be screaming at me hehehehehe. But I just could not imagine the colors of the matching outfit.

[SnuggleBunny]

:jawdroppi It is difficult to understand what this mother is thinking; from your description the cast member in the parade tried to handle this diplomaticaly. Sitting on a bench then screaming because others stand in front of you on a parade route, Oh My Goodness! Carolina_Yankee, followed your link and enjoyed your description and review of Wilderness Lodge.:thumbsup:

[TinkLover]

thats just scary....

[Niki]

OK, I can see where matching red or blue tee shirts would be useful in the parks. I have often seen entire matching families wearing tee shirts with the family name on it. Easy to keep everyone together, just like a tour group from Japan. I've seen my friends match colors for family photos, like everyone wears brown, or blue jeans type of thing. But this woman goes well beyond what would be normal. Either his mama is really controlling and wanted a girl, or she has really really poor fashion sense.

[carolina_yankee]

OK, I can see where matching red or blue tee shirts would be useful in the parks. I have often seen entire matching families wearing tee shirts with the family name on it. Easy to keep everyone together, just like a tour group from Japan. I've seen my friends match colors for family photos, like everyone wears brown, or blue jeans type of thing. But this woman goes well beyond what would be normal. Either his mama is really controlling and wanted a girl, or she has really really poor fashion sense.

She was definitely controlling - you could just feel the cold, hard vibes coming off of her. Such not so latent hostility. I don't know about the gender thing though - I was thinking more age appropriate. It wasn't uncommon for boys in wealthier families to be kept in long curls and dressy type clothes until they were 6 or 7 - it kind of felt like that. Nowadays, I could see if the child was still an infant - but he was clearly somewhere around 4. Very, very odd and sad for the child.

[SSRFred]

It sounds like Mom is missing the point of family fun. At 4, it really doesn't matter what the kid was wearing as long he felt fine in it. Then again, we choose not to have such outlandish options available in their dressers. However, what does matter is whether or not fun is being had. Isn't that the point of a theme park?
If there is any compromising to be done, I tend to do it rather than put it on my kids when we are at the parks. (I like Space Mountain, but if I were alone I wouldn't do it 3 times in a hour)
I agree that there will be repercussions if Mom's behavior doesn't change. All of these negative associations with vacations, theme parks, etc. can certainly leave a scar.