It takes a village

Here's something off the dominant subjects, for a change.

As I've never had any experience at fathering, I'm curious what others think of the following parenting idea.

A young neighbor girl, around 4 years old now, had fairly extensive surgery on her skull last week. She's doing very well and is expected to make a full recovery.

Soon she will be back outside and playing. As a preamble to that good news, the parents contacted all us neighbors to let us know 'you will be surprised when you see her,' and 'to think before you speak and keep facial responses as neutral as possible.'

I can totally understand this. People can be awfully callous (Get all your news, right here!). But as a non-parent - and therefore ignorant of such matters - it also made me wonder when does this sort of thing become too much protecting?

The parents are trying to keep initial responses and reactions to a minimum. Their daughter is self-conscious and trying to adjust to the temporary change in her appearance (Projection, on their part?). The parents are open and willing to talk about it, just not in their daughters presence.

I, if the situation arises, will definitely do whatever the parents suggest. But won't the kid be wondering 'hey, why isn't anyone saying anything?'