Would you have felt oppressed if your parents never let you out of their sight when you were a child?

Question

Some really nice answers here, from all sides too! Makes a pleasant change.

Answer 1

I did because they didnt!

It didnt feel at all protective but smothering and controlling.

They had a say over every single thing I did and would not let me go up to our local town on my own until quite a late age and as for going to the slightly bigger town a bus ride away - I was well into my teens before they let me do that.  I couldnt blow my nose without them running to see that it didnt drop off my face!

No room to breathe led to some hard times believ me!  Rebellion didnt come into it!

Answer 2

kids today are so wrapped in cotton wool that if ever they have to face the real world they'll be crying for mum.

and to answer your question. yes i would have felt oppressed. kids should have some space. they should be allowed to do things. i heard that four out of five kids are not allowed to climb a tree. how sad is that.

Answer 3

If I was a child yes. But being an adult I understand! It is sooo dangerous out there!  I love my child more than my life and I wouldn't want anything to happen to her.  However, there does come a time where you have to trust in what you taught them and let them go...maybe when their 50!  LOL

Answer 4

I think I'd be more than depressed, I wouldnt have grown up as independant as I was and am now. You bring up a good question, What is I didn't lose my father at 15 years old I may have not gotten pg. at 19 years old and got married and maybe I would have gotten a better job. etc etc.

Answer 5

not when i was under 4years old ... if they had left me alone then, i would of felt scared, frightened and very sad... even in my own home ...

would you have liked it?

Answer 6

My parents didn't let me out of their sight as I was born after my sister died - I was very much loved and protected and I loved that feeling - but at first starting out as an adult I found it scary not to be completely protected - independence was hard for me.

I also had older brothers and sisters who also protected me.

Answer 7

I agree with HD.

Answer 8

There is a fine line between being protected and smothered. It really depends on the age of the child.  Of course when the child is very young the parents need to keep close eye on them but when they become older the parents need to let them have some freedoms so that they can learn how to make decisions on their own.

Answer 9

Yes, it would have been extremely annoying. You would never be able to talk about things you didn't want to talk about with your parents, you wouldn't be able to have a normal relationship with your friends. Overall its not a good idea. While you should make sure your child is safe at all times you should let them have some freedom as well.

Although I don't think many parents NEVER let their children out of their sight.

Answer 10

After I'd reached a certain age my parents used to drop me off in some strange places, but I always found my way home. Oppressed never loved and looked after always.

Answer 11

I would have felt loved and like they cared about what happened to me.

Maybe if I was 16/17 I would have wanted some space, I don't know.  Too many years ago! :D

Answer 12

No, that is what good parents do, and when you are old enough, they step back, but still keep their eye out for you. They never stop!

Answer 13

I would have hated being tied to my parents, or at least my mum, everybody in the community knew who you were anyway in the 50's & 60s so you were always in sight of someone, once you reached about 7 we'd be rambling in the woods or off somewhere or other, I would have hated to have been tied to mum's apron strings. One big advantage was there were very few cars so roads were safe. We were warned of being careful of strangers but were still free to do our own things.

Answer 14

Yes i would, part of growing up is being allowed to do things and go to places on your own. It doesn't do kids any good to be kept under constant supervision, although as a parent i now understand the need for responsible parenting, i guess its about getting the balance right - certainly not easy!

Answer 15

no, i'd feel loved and protected.

Answer 16

No funnily enough I loved spending time with my parents, as most children do, children love those who love them. But to be unloved and neglected then that is enough to break a child, so no, I'll stick to the wonderful memories of my dutiful and caring parents who always kept me safe from harm...

Answer 17

At the age of 3, definitely not, quite the opposite.

At the age of 13... definitely.

There is such a thing as smothering a child and wrapping him in cotton wool, so that he's totally unprepared for the REAL world when he finally stumbles out into it.