Photo from Orange Beach, Ala. Credit: Dave Martin AP
Would You Let Your Children Play in the Oil?
June 24, 2010 By 9 Comments
I live in San Diego. Way far away from the effects of the catastrophic oil spill that is plaguing the Gulf of Mexico. And while I definitely have my opinions on what is happening there, I have kept quiet. I don't really feel that my opinion matters when it's not my life, my beach, my gulf that is in peril. Blog posts about the Gulf should be reserved" data-image="http://mommy23monkeys.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/oill-spillx-large.jpg" data-site="Oh Rheally?">
Photo from Orange Beach, Ala. Credit: Dave Martin AP
I live in San Diego. Way far away from the effects of the catastrophic oil spill that is plaguing the Gulf of Mexico. And while I definitely have my opinions on what is happening there, I have kept quiet. I don’t really feel that my opinion matters when it’s not my life, my beach, my gulf that is in peril. Blog posts about the Gulf should be reserved for those living on the Gulf. But today, I came across a YouTube video that absolutely flabbergasted me!
Holy crap! What is wrong with these parents??
As a mother, I would never take my children to an oil riddled beach to play in the contaminated water and sand! I personally would not walk in this sand or play in this water.
HELLO…Oil is TOXIC!
Workers are being specially trained and must wear hazmat suits just to clean it up, yet this mother is out frolicking in the waves with her young children.
I have no words. I want to slap this woman. Wouldn’t you consider this child endangerment or am I just over reacting?
Photo from Orange Beach, Ala. Credit: Dave Martin AP
Welcome to OhRheally?, My name is Rhea and I share stories of life raising 3 sons, my experiences as a (recently retired) 
Not necessarily over reacting, but.. Sort of small picture, don’t you think? I mean…. this video is sad because this woman is either ignorant, illiterate, or just doesn’t care. But… uh… I would think that the live feed video of the oil actually spilling out would affect you more. I mean, grand scale? Some kids danced in it? Yeah.. That sucks. Thousands of animals are living in it daily. Direct the anger at someone responsible for the disease: not someone suffering from the symptoms.
Thanks for sharing your views.
Oh, for sure the entire scope of the oil spill has affected me greatly. I talk about it with my husband and children daily. It’s disgusting and sad. I just don’t live there, so I have no way to really know what it’s like. I just think more local people can give a better account of what’s actually happening down there.
And yes, this family is “suffering from the symptoms” but my post was more geared toward the negligence of this mother letting her children play in toxic waters…not necessarily about the spill itself. I don’t take my children to our local beaches when there is a sewage spill. It’s irresponsible parenting.
I wouldn’t either…
But with that said, I’ve gone to the beach in So Cal and come home with tar on my feet (that’s way normal in Santa Barbara and even in San Diego it happens). It obviously isn’t as much as what’s going on currently in the gulf, but we swim in sh*t all the time without even knowing it.
Once you DO know…get the hell outta the water, peeps! ick.
I would MAYBE bring my kids to see the damage, but play IN the oil?! No thanks. How sad.
I would NEVER let my kids walk on that beach or swim in that water…ewe!!!!!!!
Um. Wow. I can tell you my kiddos wouldn’t be playing in it! To think that the kid is crying “Get it off, Get it off” and the mom didn’t even seem to attempt until the camera was RIGHT THERE and then attempted with a shovel?! Sure kid, it’s OK for you to play in it and get it off, but I ain’t touching it!
Makes you wonder what else goes on in these parents’ minds and how the kiddos turn out as grown people.
That is crazy. I don’t even take my kids to the river here in Sacramento because the water is so dirty. I could not imagine letting them play on a beach like this. I guess everyone has their own parenting styles
I think the thing that was the most appalling part of the video was when the adults tried to explain that “Well, the news this morning said the water was clean…”. I just can’t fathom that you would listen to the news rather than use your own eyes and listen to your own child. To me, this justification is like walking down the street with an umbrella on a sunny day because the weatherman said it was going to rain.
Even if the parents don’t think it’s so bad, the child is clearly uncomfortable and traumatized. Take her home and don’t come back until it’s clean.
~ Kristen