Am I too weird here? Shoelaces in Primary.

[Backroads]

Years ago, shortly into my career as a teacher, I made a decision to not tie kids' shoelaces. Why? Someone mentioned loose laces in the bathroom and I have since been permanently disgusted.

Today, one of my wigglier CTR 5-year-olds inexplicably untied his shoes to show his friend, started licking the shoelaces, and then asked me to tie them. This was all during the scripture and talk in sharing tie them.

My refusal to tie shoes came into play, especially with the licking. 

Finally, one of the presidency comes over to tie his shoes. I don't know if she noticed me refusing. I also did not inform her of the shoelace licking.

No one said anything to me or even looked at me like I failed, but I kind of feel like a heel.

Yet I stand by this kid gross shoelace boundary.

 

Edited June 19, 2023 by Backroads

[askandanswer]

We all need to have some sort of standards and its up to each of us to decide what our standards are and if or when we will make exceptions. 

Edited June 19, 2023 by askandanswer

[Grunt]

I would have tied them.  I wouldn't have thought anything of you not tying them.

[Vort]

In the lovely innocence of childhood, children are pretty disgusting.

[Carborendum]

13 hours ago, Backroads said:

Finally, one of the presidency comes over to tie his shoes. I don't know if she noticed me refusing. I also did not inform her of the shoelace licking.

I would have waited until she was almost finished and...

You might want to wash your hands now.
She may or may not have asked "why?" or simply said "ok".  But then I'd add:
You don't know what he did those laces that made me refuse to tie them.

Disgust, understanding, and respect all rolled into one.

[mirkwood]

I made some parents mad when I was in the nursery.  If they dropped off a child that was sick, I took them back to the parent and told them not to send a sick child in with other children.

 

[pam]

I carry hand sanitizer.  I would have tied them.

[LDSGator]

11 minutes ago, pam said:

I carry hand sanitizer.  I would have tied them.

I do too, but it’s still a little gross. I would not have tied them. 

[mordorbund]

On 6/18/2023 at 11:08 PM, Backroads said:

Today, one of my wigglier CTR 5-year-olds inexplicably untied his shoes to show his friend, started licking the shoelaces, and then asked me to tie them.

Children often want to do "big boy" things but are still developing the necessary skills to see it through. It's a balance for adults to let them struggle for the long-term success vs doing it for them and expediting the short-term. In this case I think I would have finished what he started and eaten the shoe strings.

[Emmanuel Goldstein]

double knot your kids laces so they cannot get them undone.

[mordorbund]

3 hours ago, Emmanuel Goldstein said:

double knot your kids laces so they cannot get them undone.

If you suck on them first they'll swell after they're tied and make it even harder to untie them.

[Vort]

5 minutes ago, mordorbund said:

If you suck on them first they'll swell after they're tied and make it even harder to untie them.

Where's the green-faced aspirating-vomit-while-laughing emoji?