Influencer Lottie Weaver has strong opinions about parenting, especially when it comes to play.
On Monday, April 27, the 32-year-old content creator posted a video on TikTok explaining how she thinks her children should behave in social situations. Weaver, a mother of three, said she doesn't believe her children should share "their toys or snacks" with other children.
“If we’re outside, at the park or in a shared play area, if my kids have a skateboard, a toy or something like bubbles, they don’t share it with your kids. They don’t have to do that,” Weaver said. “I would never, ever force my kids to share their stuff with another kid.”
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Speaking to her 3 million TikTok followers, she explained the reasons for this stance:
"First, you should have brought your own things. Second, it's their game, they're not obligated to share them with you. Third, you don't have to do something just because someone asks you to," he continued.
She added that the third point is a particularly "important" lesson for little girls.
“Just because someone says ‘can I have this?’ or ‘can I have that?’ doesn’t mean you have to say yes. They should have brought their own toys,” she concluded.
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Weaver acknowledged that her point doesn't apply to all situations, such as when other children come to her house to play, where you're expected to share things when you're hosting someone. Additionally, the mother of three noted that her daughters may choose to share things on their own, and in that case, she said, she fully supports them.
However, if her daughters decide they don't want to share toys anymore, or if other children start doing things like not returning toys to their owner, Weaver said she wouldn't hesitate to intervene.
"You can be sure I'm going to go there and say, 'Hold it back, put it back. Your mom should have brought you your toys. We don't have to share them, okay?'" she concluded.
"If we're out and about and we don't know each other well, even if we know each other very well, if my child doesn't want to share his doll with your child, he doesn't have to."
