Mom sparks debate over controversial choice about children at the playground: ‘I can't stand parents who do this'
Amanda, a mom of three who goes by @free.as.amother on Instagram, has the internet in a tizzy after posting a reel of herself sitting peacefully on a park bench, coffee in hand, watching her kids play — but not playing with them, originally reported on by Parents.com.
Her stance? A one-word zinger: 'No.'
The recent clip was a direct response to another video urging parents to get off their butts and into the sandbox with their kids.
Amanda wasn't having it.
'I'm not saying to never intervene, play with, or support your kiddo,' she clarified in the caption. 'I'm just highlighting here that it's okay if you don't want to be the adult scaling the playground.'
Translation? She's a mom, not a jungle gym.
The take has sparked a tug-of-war in the parenting arena, with some calling Amanda a champion of boundaries — and others labeling her an absentee at recess.
Amanda sees the playground as 'a space where they get to experience some freedom, explore, interact and engage with other children without their parents breathing down their neck.'
And many moms are backing her up.
'I play every day all day. The park is the ONE TIME they are there to play independently and with others their age lol,' one wrote.
'Let them be bored. Let them get creative. Let them make new friends. Their parent is not their court jester. The playground is meant for kids to play, not parents,' chimed in someone else.
Another preschool pro added, 'Kids need to come up with their own creativity sometimes. It's my job to have objects for them to play with, but it's their job to figure out what they want to do with that said object.'
Still, some spectators warned against zoning out completely — especially when wild kids go full 'Lord of the Flies' on the slide.
'You don't need to play with the kids, but you do need to watch them,' one commenter snapped. 'I can't stand parents who sit on the bench staring at their phone while their kid is terrorizing other children.'
This is the latest flashpoint in the modern parenting wars — much like Chelsea Lensing's wild viral hack to stop car seat whining by asking her kids, 'Did you bring a snack?'
The economist mom went viral last month for turning backseat complaints into toddler teachable moments.
The goal isn't starvation — it's self-awareness.
'She got really upset because she wanted a doll too,' Lensing recalled. 'I said, 'Did you bring one?' and she said, 'No. Next time, I'm going to bring a doll, too.''
Her method sparked a firestorm of its own, with critics calling it 'insane' for kids under 5, while teachers applauded it for building accountability.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
10 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Woman Loses Husband to Alcoholism, Unprepared for Message She Then Receives
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. In the midst of profound grief, preparing for her ex-husband's cremation, Annie Parker, a 43-year-old mother of two teenage boys, received a text. The message, from one of her late husband's friends and whether intentionally or not, laid bare the immense stigma and blame often directed at the families of individuals battling addiction. In an Instagram reel, she shared her raw reaction to the message, which had resonated with over 14,000 viewers at the time of writing. Parker spoke to Newsweek about why she chooses to share her experience of the impact of end of life alcoholism, and what she wishes people understood about addiction. In 2020 and recently divorced after years of struggling with his alcoholism, Parker was waiting to see Chris for the final time when she received a text: "I know I'm asking tough questions, but my friend is dead and there's this whole secret life that was going on that I just want to understand...I know it's tough right now, but I'm just so confused. There are people in this world that can deal with reality and don't put up a facade that they have a perfect life...I am very sickened." Photos from Annie Parker's Instagram reel sharing the message she received from her husband's friend after his passing. Photos from Annie Parker's Instagram reel sharing the message she received from her husband's friend after his passing. @anniethesafeparent/TikTok Parker's reaction to the message was shared in her reel's caption: "I am sickened. When I heard those words, I was shocked...I didn't get any peaceful time to grieve my husband's death. I didn't even have time to grieve our divorce. Anyone who has questions about why I still call Chris my husband after we were you don't already know, you will never understand." "Family and friends of alcoholics are know what's going on, don't help, and then lash out at the spouse as if we had a magical wand to cure alcoholism and just didn't wave it," she wrote. Finding Strength Amidst Blame and Grief When Parker first received the message, she told Newsweek she was in a state of "new, complicated, deep grief." Years of living with active alcoholism had left her depleted and her initial reaction was to defend herself. "I felt really confused and had been broken down by years of living with active alcoholism in my home," she said. "I responded by trying to explain myself and my innocence, which now breaks my heart." Her response to those who assign blame to the spouses of alcoholics is unwavering: "I am not here to defend my decisions or my actions. If a person hasn't lived in my shoes, they could never begin to understand my journey," she said. "I don't expect them to. I just also don't expect them to start pointing fingers, but here we they were his real friends, they would know that never ever, in a million years, would Chris want them blaming me for what happened. Rest assured that everyone who needed to know details, did." The Misunderstood Realities of Addiction Parker said she shared her vulnerable journey online for several reasons. "When a person is in active addiction, it's really hard to speak out about it because doing so can feel shameful and harmful toward that person," she explained. Her mission now is to "help educate and support others in the aftermath of something horrible that happened to my family." A significant part of her advocacy addresses societal misconceptions surrounding alcoholism and the pervasive stigma. "Society tends to have addiction all wrong. There is so much stigma surrounding alcoholism. This is common knowledge, yet most people stick to their outdated beliefs because they don't know any differently," she said. She uses social media to create a safe space for spouses and family members of alcoholics, who are often unfairly blamed. "The spouses get blamed so often for things like 'leaving our partners when they need us the most' and 'breaking our vows' or causing our partners' alcoholism because we 'are too controlling,'" she added. Parker emphasized that it is not a family member's responsibility to save others—nor is it even in their realm of ability. "We can support one another and encourage one another, but we cannot save each other," she said. "We can only save ourselves and, in many cases, we are forced to save our children from their sick parent." Her brave act of sharing her story aims to change the narrative surrounding alcoholism in the home. She continues to advocate for the often-overlooked suffering of families: "The alcoholic is suffering and does need and deserve support," she said. "That is well known. The family is suffering and needs and deserves support too. That's why I'm here."
New York Post
39 minutes ago
- New York Post
Hulk Hogan's cause of death revealed
WWE legend Hulk Hogan died of a heart attack, according to the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center records obtained by Page Six. Hogan, 71, suffered from acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, and had a history of atrial fibrillation (AFib), the most common cardiac arrhythmia — or irregular heartbeat. Per the records, the WWE Hall of Famer had a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which is a type of cancer affecting white blood cells. Hulk Hogan at the WWE's Wrestlemania 30 press conference at The Hard Rock Cafe on April 1, 2014 in New York City. MediaPunch/Shutterstock The New York Post cover for Friday, July 25, 2025. csuarez Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was taken by ambulance from his home in Clearwater, Fla., on July 24, with a 911 call citing 'cardiac arrest,' and he died at the hospital. Hogan's current wife, Sky Daily, called his death 'sudden' in an Instagram message on Friday.
Buzz Feed
2 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Kylie Jenner Posts Photos Of Kris Jenner's Extravagant House
Whether it's Kim Kardashian's eerily minimalistic mansion or Kendall Jenner's 'shabby chic' guest house, it's safe to say that the Kardashian/Jenners' homes get lots of attention. And this week, all eyes are on Kris Jenner's house after her youngest daughter, Kylie, shared a rare glimpse at all of the inner details. Taking to her Instagram story, Kylie wrote, 'sleepover at moms,' as she shared a bunch of photos from inside the home — including a vintage-style bedroom, bespoke fireplace, and stunning outdoor dining table by a pool. Here are the photos: Reacting to the glamorous home, one person said on Reddit, 'Oh to be wealthy and have extravagant sleepovers with my mom.' Another person said, 'what a fancy life! I really want that too.' Stunning! Let us know what you think in the comments.
