I came across this looking for a lawnmower:
[www.amazon.com]

Um . . . would you really want your child to think of a lawnmower as cute and friendly?

This really bugs me . . .

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I suffer from the same sensitivity that you do. A few nuggets of wisdom were shared with me and I'm "trying" to incorporate them into my life. First, remember that nobody can hurt your feelings unless you let them. You can always reject what is being forced on you emotionally.
Second, nothing changes unless you change it. If you don't want the behavior to be repeated then you need to take action. Otherwise the kid has learned that his behavior is the way to get things done, because everyone lets him get away with it.
In the meantime I sympathize because I've been there.
-beerman

Yes, it's creepy.

No, I don't want my son thinking of the lawnmower as friendly. I want him scared of it.

It bugs me too.

would you really want your kid to think of a large carnivorous lizard as their friend?

do you want your kid associating with a piece of sponge that wears square pants?

or a crabby homeless monster?

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...or playing with the knobs on a stove...?

...or digging through the knife-drawer...?

...or touching hot pots and pans...?

Reviewer: A reader
I bought this for my 2 year old, 6 months ago, and it is his all time favorite book! We have to read it every night before bed and quite a few times during the day. He loves peeking under the flaps and finding all the things that are hidden for the season. I will definitely be buying more to give as Christmas gifts.

too late . . .

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Bill
Flagler Beach, FL 32136

Carpe Vino!

Fermentation may have been a greater discovery than fire.
— David Rains Wallace

y'all are the reason the world is so fscked up.

There's nothing wrong with this book.

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In the words of DharmaDog: "it may or may not be utter horse@#$%&, but it shouldn't be dismissed simply because it doesn't agree with your opinion."

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Trying is the first step to failure. -- Homer Simpson

ahhh, little kids are fascinated with everything. The connection between reality and fantasy is tenuous at best.

I kept my kids respectful of the lawnmower, but not scared to the level of 'run away and have nightmares'.

Of course, more kids are killed by lawnmowers every year than many of the things that our society has declared 'illegal' and 'dangerous' for kids.

I agree with elmo for a change.
There's nothing wrong with that book. What about all the books about tractors,
trains, construction equipment, cars, etc? It's better to be educated than scared of
something. Curiosity killed the cat.

PS: and yes I have kids, 2 teenagers 16 and 17 yo. One is now ranked #1 in his class
of 380, the other in the top 10. They grew up watching and reading the There Goes A
"Whatever" Series of videos and Thomas the Tank Engine. They also had toy lawnmowers.

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Grateful11

Why would you want a kid to fear a lawnmower ?
You want him to cut the lawn, voluntarily.

Respecting it's power and capabilities is another thing.
Watch your toes.

I am not homeless, crabby yes, homeless no.

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The Taoist Zhuangzi said, "Good order results spontaneously when things are let alone".
The sociologist, and historian, Adam Ferguson described the phenomenon of spontaneous order in society as the "result of human action, but not the execution of any human design".

This may not be a great time to point it out, but did you know that Gamera is a friend to all children?

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You want creepy?

Search for "driving toy" at Amazon.

One (or two) of these things is not like the other....

- Shadow

Personally I find this toy much more disturbing then a book about a friendly lawnmower:

[www.amazon.com]

outcast

No, there is nothing creepy about it at all. (Add me to the list of those who agree reluctantly with elmo but otherwise want no association).

Any normal kid is smart enough to know the difference between the personified pretend lawnmower and the real lawnmower.

To Mike Johnson: your kid who you've made scared of the lawnmower is a lot more likely to have an accident with it.

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[picasaweb.google.com] [www.flickr.com]

As a dad I find nothing wrong with the book about the lawnmower. My two sons have learned to respect, not fear, the real power tools that I use. I agree with outcast. I have much bigger concerns for those young (preschool) kids who are given a motorized car by their parents or grandparents. Without proper constant supervision those kids can quickly ride their car into streets and be hurt. I've seen too many close calls. Dave

My son is three. When he's old enough to use a lawn mower, he'll be well past reading that book.

Kids get killed when parents overestimate their ability to act rationally and predict consequences. Kids get killed when parents assume they know how to plug in a lamp, or that pills and candy are two different things, or that you should stop playing under the car when somebody gets in it.

Small kids are driven by little more than two emotions: desire to please, and fear. There's nothing wrong with a three year old being scared of the lawn mower, electrical plugs, knives, and even snakes if you live where rattlesnakes are a problem. They get over it when the time is right.

The idea that you can teach a three year old to "respect a tool" is laughable at best, and dangerous at worst.

And don't ever criticize my parenting, Don Kiyoti. I didn't ask for your advice.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2006 03:07PM by Mike Johnson.

does everyone here own electric mowers?

i've only used gas. i've never met a 3 year old that could start one.

where is the danger?

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Anything but that fscking candy-ass Elmo.
No wonder this has become a nation of whining, overprotected poo$$ies.

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I am not Ryan Seacrest, and I do not approve this message.