Hey Lady, Control Your Brats

Published on June 24, 2006 By MasonM In Blogging

Ok, I know I'm tired and my back, hip, and leg hurt like crazy so I'm a little (read a lot) less patient than normal. Ok, crabby.

I walked (hobbled) into the truckstop to get something to eat. As my cash is running low I decided to get something cheap from the chicken place inside. I stood in line, ordered my food, and was waiting for it to be ready when these two women came in with 6 kids ranging in age (guessing) from about 5 to maybe 9 or 10. And these kids were obviously very wound up.

They were jumping, yelling, hopping up on the counter, playing with the soda fountain, and basically running amok. I could tell that I wasn't the only person standing there that was getting annoyed by these heathens. The two women were making no real effort to control these brats at all. One of them, a boy who looked about 7 or 8, in the process of running amok stepped upon my sandaled toes (bad leg of course). This tore it for me.

I snagged him by the shoulder and told him in my deepest carries-for-miles voice that he just stepped on my toes and that maybe it would be a good idea if he went over there (pointing to a chair) and sat down before someone got hurt. At this point one of the women apologized to me while I glared at her and the two women hearded up the brats (looked like cat hearding for a moment) and made them all sit down. One of the other drivers standing there came me a subtle thumbs up after the little monsters were seated.

After a couple of moments one of the kids started to get up and I glared over at her. The kid I fussed at quickly grabbed her and made her sit back down. I couldn't hear what he said to her as he was whispering, but I can well imagine.

I don't really dislike kids, but I seriously dislike parents that allow their kids to go wild in a public place and disturb other people. It really makes me want to grab a belt and beat the parent's ass.

Neither woman looked me in the eye the rest of the time I was waiting for my food.

Comments (Page 6)

Ionolast

on Jun 27, 2006

Perhaps yours should have opted for abortion then?

Nice trolling. There you go with another cheap shot. Mason should delete that comment as it has nothing to do with the subject.

BTW, you're not a parent, are you?

JillUser

on Jun 27, 2006

Perhaps yours should have opted for abortion then?

That was totally uncalled for LW.

This thread really hit some nerves. I think that is good in some ways because I think parenting is such an important job. It's an incredibly difficult job that comes with no training or manuals.

There are people who would make fantastic parents who aren't able to have children and people who should never have become parents who have many children. Our entire society has to deal with the consequences. That is why I don't think it is fair to discount what someone says just because they don't have children of their own or assume someone knows more about parenting just because they have a bunch of kids.

Ionolast

on Jun 27, 2006

That was totally uncalled for LW

Thank you, Jill.

CariElf

on Jun 27, 2006

Once I caught my boys running inside a church up and down the isles and I called them all to me outside the sanctuary into the back room and said in a loud voice, "sit,sit,sit. If you're going to act like animals, I'm going to treat you like animals. Don't get up until I say you can." They were like 5,7 & 8 at the time.I had no idea my Pastor was in the next room. He almost fell off his chair laughing his head off.

! That reminds me of a similar story. When my sister was living in Atlanta with my brother's family, she once took my niece (5) and nephew (2) to the zoo. While they were there, our niece spotted a kid on a leash, and she very loudly said, "Look! That kid is so bad he's on a leash!" My sister, also very loudly, replied, "Yes, and I'll get one for you, too, if you don't stay by me!" The mother of the child on the leash laughed. My niece was apparently cowed by that threat because she stayed close.

Tova7

on Jun 27, 2006

That wasn't directed at you. It was just a general statement.

My apologies...didn't mean to be defensive.

A toddler isn't going to be able to discern an adult that deserves respect from one who doesn't. That is the problem. You didn't communicate with the other adult. You simply determined you were right and she was wrong and you were going to show her what for.

You don't give kids too much credit....my toddler knows the "mean" adults from the ones who aren't (and it has nothing to do with how many times an adult has corrected him). I don't have a problem with a NON stranger correcting my kid, like my neighbors, teachers, family, people he knows. Though I can't remember it ever happening in my presence.

He seems to know which adults like kids and which do not.

I am not going to defend my actions because I did what was best for MY kid at the time. I am not questioning Brad's parenting technique and how he handled the situation at the baseball game either. I wasn't there but can believe he had his kids best interest at heart.

I am my child's advocate. If I have to give anyone the benefit of the doubt in a situation I will give it to my child. (And I know plenty parents don't do this....my son had several kids in his class whose parents blamed them without even asking questions every time the teacher said they misbehaved.)

And if another adult is HURTING my child in some way I am not going to beat around the bush, but come straight to the point. Any respect they may have garnered is forfeited the moment they decide its ok to hurt my child (physically or by threatening them).

Tova7

on Jun 27, 2006

This thread really hit some nerves. I think that is good in some ways because I think parenting is such an important job. It's an incredibly difficult job that comes with no training or manuals.

That is a fact. But after all is said and done, I may be naive, but I believe most parents want the best for their kids...and act on those desires. I may not agree with your style, or you with mine, but in the end I believe *most* parents love their kids....and that covers a multitude of sins.

Ionolast

on Jun 27, 2006

So was the remark that prompted it, as this is not a thread about birth control.

Maybe you would understand the meaning of #79 if you would get your head out of your ass.

foreverserenity

on Jun 27, 2006

So all of you perfect parents never had your kids embarass you in public? There was never one minute when they didn't listen, wouldn't behave or threw a fit and if they did you just went back home?

I haven't read all the other comments cause I wanted to respond to you Loca. Of course I have! Being a parent, I've been there too. There are times when they kids are hell bent on not listening and doing the worst possible things to make you want to go into the floor somewhere.

There are times when I let them do what they want to but I monitor them. Mark you my most active child is my four year old and my 11 year old son can be too when he is around the stuff he loves, namely games and new toys he loves. But if they ever act up or try to, I curb it. When my four year old is out of control a quick slap or getting in her face for her to focus on me gets her in line.

I totally understand what you mean though, it's damn if you do when you do get them in control by any means necessary (not hurting them of course but sometimes even giving a slap makes you look like a bad parent) and damn if you don't because other people will look at you badly.

I say ignore them all and focus on your kids and get them to do what YOU want them to do. That or leave the premises pronto! Kids will be kids and they get overexcited easily. Someone mention that they may have been cooped up for too long. I think Mason did the right thing, cause by their reaction and non-reaction, those parents don't usually do anything where those kids are concern. Or they are so used to it they don't see when it's become everyone's problem.

foreverserenity

on Jun 27, 2006

I know my kids can be loud and wild but that's how boys are. I'm not going to put them on ritalin

One teacher suggested this for my son when he was about 8 or 9. She kept complaining that he fidgeted too much in class. Of course I thought she was a looney tune!

! Crazy people just want you to get your kids on meds for any reason!

foreverserenity

on Jun 27, 2006

Hey, we all deserve a little bit of slack. I agree there are some people who are just a bit too easy to irritate. Not in this situation, but I have seen people get mad over kids just laughing. What would they rather have the kids do? Walk like soldiers? Live terrified of the world around them just so they don't make the slightest noise? It's too much. I always expect my kids to make even a little bit of noise, otherwise I would be worried. But to let them do what they want and not do anything about it is what drives me nuts about some parents.

I agree with Charles here. I mean, kids will be kids and I let my kids be themselves. But I don't let them go crazy and they have to have respect.

foreverserenity

on Jun 27, 2006

Reply By: ModeratemanPosted: Monday, June 26, 2006wow this got pretty hot and heavy.,. good subject and lots of good and differing answers."kids! cannot live with them" Cannot deep freeze them till they are ready for college"

Oh Elie, you crack me up!!

! [sorely needed at this point too!

Let me say one more thing before Mason thinks I'm taking over his blog - but it's a great discussion!

Tonya, in the sense that Mason grabbed the child. I'm assuming he did that when the child stomped on his feet. In that sense he held on to him to bring what the child did to his attention and since the mom's did nothing, hey they were there, they did nothing and seemingly would have let things slide. He did the right thing. Now if he had pinched or smack them, that's a different story. But holding onto the child, especially if in the action of stomping on his feet and running off would have made them both fall over....

While I'm not making excuses, I can see justifyingly, why he would grab the child.

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