Six is kindergarden.
Age was going to be my first question. A 4 year old, you’re an idiot. A 10 year old, other mom is bonkers. 6 is a judgment call based upon kid.
Other mom is nuts, but I agree that at six, a written checklist is a good idea.
Agreed. I ask my kids to pack and then I verbally double-check that they have the important stuff. Once they pass a couple of checks, I know they have become responsible enough to do it on their own without a check.
I don’t mind letting them forget something for a learning experience, especially if they don’t seem to be figuring it out. But I prefer to know they are going to have one beforehand. For swimming at day camp I would have reminded them, but I don’t think it is bad that the OP did not.
As far as the other mom: sure she sounds crazy, but probably she is not. Sometimes is it just a matter of letting the idea sink in. It also matters how well she knows the OP and exactly how things were said.
I wish I’d said that. 
6 is maybe a little young IMO but it’s your call how much trama you want to subject your child too. I mean, he didn’t get to swim one day! You are the best judge of how well he takes that sort of thing.
The other mom is a busybody. Or else she worries about her own choices (as all good parents do) and you will notice her child taking more responsibility in the furture. LP sets a good example for everyone else!
That mommy will be at the college telling the professors why her child can’t be failing their class.
Yes. There is a 100% correlation between packing your kid’s swimsuit for them at camp when they are 6, and harassing their college professors about their grades 15 years later.
what you did was right, but the other mom is not exactly nuts. six is kind of reasonable for that reaction, unless your child were nine or something. helicopter parenting for six-year-olds is surely a normal, and socially acceptable, thing right?
I hate to say this but I have seen lots of parents agree with the other mother.
Heaven forbid you should teach your child his actions have consequences.
It’s one thing to deny a child a once in a lifetime opportunity or even a big trip, like say going to the zoo, if you only go once or twice a year. That I could see some leeway.
But just swimming? No you were right. Maybe you can teach him “other people count.” Then you’d have a really socially responsible child 
I remember when I was a kid we’d have to bring in permission slips to go on field trips. And of course there were those kids who didn’t. The principle didn’t call the parents and get verbal permission or anything. He said “Hopefully next time you’ll remember,” and they sat in a room outside his office all day while the rest of the class went on the field trip
I think she’s nuts. Completely. Six years old is definitely old enough to learn to do some things on your own. Planning ahead is a valuable skill.
Palo Verde, if I may ask, are you male or female? As a father, I’ve found that other kids’ mothers are far more willing to give me parenting instructions (framed as advice of course) than they are to another mother.
When my daughters hit 5th or 6th grade, we instituted a rule where they were responsible for getting their backpacks ready for school each day, including lunch, homework, gym clothes, etc. They were also given “1 free pass” (per semester) if they forgot something. By that, we meant if they got to school and needed something, they could get in touch with Mrs. Arrgh or me, and if we had not left for work, yet, we would take the forgotten item to them on our way to work. However, if we had already left for work, or if they had already used up their free pass, they were out of luck.
The “once-per-semester” was there to account for the massive loss of gray matter that happened during the summer and winter breaks.
On the other hand, my youngest was in 6th grade or so and we were driving from Kansas City to Chicago. One of the highlight places on the trip was the American Girl store. We were 15 minutes away from home when my daughter discovered she had left her American Girl dolls at home.
Of course, we turned around and went home so she could get the dolls.
After all, forgotten homework can be turned in the next day with a slight penalty. Not having one’s American Girl dolls while visiting the Site of the Holy Grail would have been a disaster I did not wish to court.
Six years old is kindergarten? I was four when I started. This obviously varies by area. 
Six is First Grade. Five is Kindergarten.
I’m glad you recognize it.
Recognize it? I’m publishing a peer-reviewed journal article on it next month! It’ll be the August 2010 issue of Scientific Sounding Crap I Made Up, if anyone is interested.
More like 5/6 is kindergarten, 6/7 is first grade. Of course, I went to private school and slipped in at 4y11m, so it’s doable, but not in public schools.
I don’t think either of you is nuts, although her reaction does seem a little annoying.
At five I wouldn’t expect my daughter to be that responsible. It’s still my job to make sure she has what she needs for the day but I do make her help so she learns what to do. Giving your child responsibility is great though, and letting him see the consequences of his being irresponsible! I’ve been teaching my little girl to help cook dinner and clean. I think she has a lot more responsibility than her big sister did at that age but if we were preparing to send her off for a day where there’s a pool, I’d still probably give a little check myself before she was out the door. Then again my daughter has a severe language disorder so if I said “Don’t forget your swimsuit” she’d probably pack three pairs of socks and a random boot.
To answer some questions, I’m female and he’s going to start 1st grade in August.
A written checklist is a good idea at any age! (I’m 48 and I need them more now than I ever did at 6 :p).