GC, I knew you were kidding. I just don't like that particular phrase, even when used in jest; my father's side of them family actually believed it and disliked those of us who disagreed.

And MouseWife, I've had a similar experience (in the very long line at the DL Princess Faire) and I was frustrated and furious, too. I wish more parents would pay more attention to their children's behavior! I was just trying to lay the responsibility at the feet of the parents, who really can make a difference in the way kids behave.

I think I would have tried the "I surrender, I win" approach during this situation. As soon as they started messing with me, I would have let them go ahead of me. In fact, I'd get back in line after a couple of other parties pass by too. That's easier than putting up with them especially since you acknowledged their shenanigans which only makes them do it more.
:)


I'm pretty good with kids. But there are times when my patience is thin thin thin and they bug the crud out of me. Especially at the park. I find it annoying that parents let their kids roam free in DL. But the reality is is that it's going to happen and I prepare myself for seeing/interacting with dinglecheese kids. I report unparented children shenanigans to CMs all the time. But then again, there are other kids who are well mannered out there (like I was when I was a kid) and they deserve credit where credit is due yaddah yaddah blah blah.

Parents can be so worthless, though.

At one of those parking lot carnivals for kids {a pumpkin patch} I was in line with my son, standing behind a boy who'd been waiting eagerly with his ticket in his hand. I think he was the extra one who didn't make it on the last ride so he had to wait for the next one. Well, a woman came up with her kid. She got in front of the boy. He looked at her but I think maybe he didn't speak English and so he just gave her a look like 'Um...okay...big lady...'. I told her 'He is in the front of the line, the back of the line is here.' She said 'So?'

I maintained my composure thinking 'Right, show your kids just how to be a decent person'. It kills me because I really try and show my kids right from wrong, by my actions.

Only once did I get really pi$$ed and ask the kids where the woman was who took the innertubes from them at the water park saying shiet to them. I was like 'Point her to me...I am going after her right now....' as I was putting things in the car freeing up my hands. The Hubster had to calm me down.
She had claimed they took them from her kids, or had cut in line or something. I know my kids would not do that. I seriously have faith in them to do the right thing in that situation.

GC~ that probably is what I should have done.

As kids {about 10 and up maybe} we were also allowed to roam in a small group. But, yessir, we did behave ourselves!!

At work, I will tell the parents whose children are well behaved that they have wonderful children. I do think, though, that the crying miserable children are the faults of the parents. Either they've pushed them too far and they are exhausted and crying is what they are going to do or else they've spoiled them by never saying no so they cry until they get what they want.

It does hurt my heart, though, to see the quiet repressed kids whose parents give them a look or spew mean words at them. You wonder how things are at home.

GC, I totally believe you were a good kid. :snap:

Conversely, I think parents who are too protective, too restrictive can be just as bad as the absent or absent-minded ones.

I did this special event at the Monterey Bay Aquarium several years ago. It was a kids' craft booth. All they had to do was cut construction paper and glue it to make a finger puppet.
One 8 year old kid's mom:
"Robbie's not allowed to use scissors. I'll do it for you, Robbie. You'll just cut yourself."
Now if the kid was special needs, I would have agreed. He wasn't.
Another:
"Jessica, you're cutting it all wrong, stay on the lines!"
Another:
"Nice finger puppet, I guess. Try it again."
Doing this event made my heart hurt. I decided then I shouldn't be a grade school teacher.
:D

MW ~ I don't know if the event will require you to tattoo "grouch" on your forehead. I think it would have bugged anyone.

I was. Not all of the time, but most of the time. Especially in public. If I had a chance to do it again, I'd definitely try to get away with more shenanigans.
I remember seeing a kid when I was about 4 or 5. He ran down a supermarket aisle with his hand out knocking over can after can of Campbell Soup. I remember thinking that it looked like a lot of fun to do.
:D

I would vote for unseen and not heard, but that's just me. I am a grouch.

That is absolutely brilliant! I must remember to do that next time!

I was a middle of the road protective mom. Made them wear helmets out on the concrete to ride their ride ons, but let them do it. Gave them scissors, glue, paint, playdoh.

I can't believe parents who don't like play-doh. Sure, it can be messy, but, it is such a great thing for the kids to use. Their manual dexterity, their imagination. All the parents think about is the carpet, etc.

We always had areas set up just for the kids. Well, our whole house was for the kids but for that sort of stuff, tables, covers, whatever. They had paint easles, too.

That is what baths are for.

Oh good, if I am going to get a tattoo, I would like one more sinister. :evil:

Sure, it looked like fun, but you knew it was wrong.

Well, kids do that at my job all of the time!!! One night, they found a whole row of towels that had been sprayed with shaving cream!!! The whole row!!!

Kids are a lot smarter than people give them credit for. They did that to MW because they knew it was bugging her and they knew there wasn't much she could do in retaliation.

I think I posted this somewhere before, but my friend's kid makes a public display every time he's being scolded or gets grabbed by the arm for something he did that was wrong. When my friend would grab his arm and put him in his stroller, the kid would go, "Ouch! They're hurting me. Heeeelllp! Someone help me!"
You can imagine what kind of looks my friends get from people in a mall. Does the kid know that what he was yelling would make his parents look bad? Of course he does.
:D