Beware of the adults in church!

Were in Orlando, ready for THE Disneyland experience later in the week. (Will it be quieter on a weekday?) today we went to church.

Xss and I have been discussing the way that Americans socialise differently to us: chattier to strangers, really put themselves out for their friends/others,

We have mooted the possibility that this is due to such early socialisation in daycare since their parents have such short maternity/paternity leave. This seemed even more prevelant today when we took Starbucks along to Sunday school. She was in the lowest 'class' of 0-4 year olds, and they really tried to get us to leave her there alone. Starbucks, in my opinion, is not shy or unconfident. She will often speak, unprovoked, to adults as if they were her peers, or sometimes her minions. but I also believe that she is appropriately cautious of unknown adults if she is not with me. I know some kids who would thrive in a new environment like this whilst left alone, she is not one of them. However, the attitude of the workers there was nothing short of curt and downright stubborn is trying to deter me or Xss from staying with her. (We won).

As I sat in the service trying to work this all out I began to wonder if our behaviour, for the Americans, was very odd. If  mothers are forced to return to work so quickly then their children are likely being left with strangers from a few weeks old. For me to be concerned about ,my 3 year old being with strangers perhaps seemed like I was ridiculously babying her. But I've only left her with a couple of friends and family, and at one nursery after I'd spent a week there with her too. So it's possible that a section of Americans are used to trusting adults they don't know from a young age, and then seeing everyone as a potential friend, rather than A-threat-until-proved-otherwise as we british do. I'm not sure what is healthier, or how Americans with stay at home moms fit in, perhaps it's nothing to do with nursery at all?

Any Americans/others want to comment? Do you think you are friendlier? If so why? (You won't get any email spam or anything for commenting on blogger)