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  • Parenting Inaction!

    No, that isn't a typo and if you suspected it might be, you're on the wrong site.

    Today after church I decided to drop my boyfriend off at home to get some sleep while I headed off to my favorite Mexican restaurant for some me time. I got lucky when I went there, as the place is extremely popular with the church crowd and there's usually a wait. Me? They marched me right in and sat me at a booth -- a booth, on a Sunday afternoon! -- and I just couldn't believe my luck.

    Then I saw why there was an empty booth at all on a Sunday. Next to me, two tables had been pushed together to accommodate two couples and their, altogether, six young children. The couples were having a grand time catching up and having a chat, and what with everything going on in the world these days, they understandably could not be bothered to watch their children. I ended up doing it for them, for a while.

    I watched one child bolt into the restaurant kitchen, in between the legs of several waitstaff carrying heavy trays, one of whom had to shoo the child back out of the kitchen.

    I watched one child give a child from a neighboring table a hug, then body slam him onto the floor, whereupon a wrestling match broke out -- again, with waitstaff and customers passing by and sometimes over the melee.

    I watched one little girl knock her chair over four separate times.

    I watched another child stand up on his chair and shriek and wave crayons in the air.

    I watched, and felt, the oldest kid sliding his chair backwards across the floor, repeatedly, into the edge of my table.

    Meanwhile, the conversation flowed ever onward. Just four good friends catching up. You could tell they hadn't seen each other in a while, and had made plans to spend the evening together as well. One of the women mentioned to one of the children they were all going to a play, even!

    I can't even imagine the fun the theatergoers will have with this bunch.
    Drive it like it's a county car.

  • #2
    I remember one time I was eating in a Friendly's restaurant, and in the middle of my meal, suddenly something went WHAAAAAAAAAAANGGGG!!!! right off the back of my head (right where the skull meets the top of my neck). Turns out the toddler in his high chair in the booth right next to mine (two years old, tops) had gotten it into his mind to whip his plastic sippy cup directly at my head just as hard as he possibly could. The only thing the prevented me from giving the parents hell was that they seemed truly embarrassed and apologized profusely, and the fact that the kid was on the opposite side of the booth from me, meaning not only did he have an arm ready for the Major Leagues, but he had dead-on aim as well. Plus, he didn't really hurt me, just startled the hell out of me. Still, even though they apologized and everything...shouldn't you notice if your kid is winding up to throw a fastball at the back of somebody's head?

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    • #3
      Last Saturday at Fazolis, a rather curious and very chubby cheeked bright blue eyed little baby boy peeked over from the next booth and said "Hi!" to me, over and over, and I didn't really mind, and my brother thought it was cute too.

      Their Ma was pissed, but the dad seemed ok with it. He apologized, we said it wasn't a bother at all, but the mom looked like she was going to beat the dad senseless for looking at me.

      Maybe I'll stay single and childless forever
      You really need to see a neurologist. - Wagegoth

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      • #4
        Many years ago, my parents and I were visiting my sister in the DC area. We went to a restaurant in Alexandria, VA, when we witnessed a little boy, who couldn't have been younger than 5 years old, run around acting like a buffoon. The adults at the table were egging him on. This kid was disruptive and dangerous to the wait staff. There were 8 "adults" at that table.

        Thankfully, this 2-year-old was much better behaved.
        This site proves Corey Taylor right. Man really is a "four letter word."

        I'm now using my Deviant Art page to post my humor.

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        • #5
          Still, even though they apologized and everything...shouldn't you notice if your kid is winding up to throw a fastball at the back of somebody's head?
          I would give these people a pass because they did apologize profusely and toddlers are freakin' FAST. They could have leaned downt to sip their drink and the kid could have chucked it at you in that 2 seconds it took.

          All the other brats in this thread though...no excuse. Since my son has been a toddler (he is now a Big Boy), I have become much more comfortable with chewing out other people's kids if the parents are absent/ignoring them. I'm not one for confrontation but someone has to discipline these children if their parents refuse to- and I have said that to one parent who took issue with me correcting their brat.
          https://www.facebook.com/authorpatriciacorrell/

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          • #6
            My parents took me out to eat from an early age so i knew what to do and how to act. One time we were visiting their friends in georgetown (tx). Their daughter, H, decided to barrel roll herself across the room. Cue me, mom and dad all . And H's parents

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            • #7
              Quoth AnaKhouri View Post
              I would give these people a pass because they did apologize profusely and toddlers are freakin' FAST. They could have leaned downt to sip their drink and the kid could have chucked it at you in that 2 seconds it took.
              Pretty much this. Preschoolers too. I tend to joke with my friends who have babies that once their kid starts to walk "Look out, soon he/she will be one speed only: RUN!" I've also ended up blocking toddlers on occasion when they've been running through the mall (and mum has been relentlessly chasing him/her). Usually the blocking gives the mum a few seconds to catch up and thank me.

              If anyone reads the Disney thread, there are SO many examples of parents misbehaving with their kids it gets old fast. There are a number of cases where the parent has allowed/encouraged their kid to take a dump somewhere.
              Security tends to have a mixed bag on these responses.
              The best professors are mad scientists! -Zoom

              Now queen of USSR-Land...

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              • #8
                Quoth patiokitty View Post
                But seriously...I really dislike parents that don't bother to control their kids in a restaurant. I brought my son up to know how to behave in a restaurant because I refused to be one of 'those' parents.
                I was brought up that way too. I was 2, out with Mum and friends and quietly colouring. They didn't even notice I hadn't been brought my food until after they'd all finished their meals because I didn't make any fuss.

                In the reverse we once went to visit a friend of one of my parents. Me and the friends kid were both about 8. Kid started throwing metal toys at me and actually caught me in the face. Mother turns round and says "he's just being a kid"... yeah, never saw them again!
                I am so SO glad I was not present for this. There would have been an unpleasant duct tape incident. - Joi

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                • #9
                  Quoth fireheart View Post
                  I've also ended up blocking toddlers on occasion when they've been running through the mall (and mum has been relentlessly chasing him/her). Usually the blocking gives the mum a few seconds to catch up and thank me.
                  Yes, I've ended up doing this once or twice too. A useful trick is to gently turn the child around to face his parents, and let him close the distance from there.

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                  • #10
                    Quoth Chromatix View Post
                    Yes, I've ended up doing this once or twice too. A useful trick is to gently turn the child around to face his parents, and let him close the distance from there.
                    I might try that next time. I seem to do well with toddlers...ironically these kids are 3 or younger. Apparently my preschool teacher voice works well with toddlers!
                    The best professors are mad scientists! -Zoom

                    Now queen of USSR-Land...

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                    • #11
                      Quoth fireheart View Post
                      I've also ended up blocking toddlers on occasion when they've been running through the mall (and mum has been relentlessly chasing him/her). Usually the blocking gives the mum a few seconds to catch up and thank me.
                      I usually don't like being at the not-really-functional selfscan cashier station (it's COLD! and many SCs think that I can ring them out), but if there are a lot of little kids in the store that's a very good position to stop them racing outside. Most parents thank me, a few have given me dirty looks...I'd love to see one of the latter try to complain.
                      "I am quite confident that I do exist."
                      "Excuse me, I'm making perfect sense. You're just not keeping up." The Doctor

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                      • #12
                        Quoth Gizmo View Post
                        In the reverse we once went to visit a friend of one of my parents. Me and the friends kid were both about 8. Kid started throwing metal toys at me and actually caught me in the face. Mother turns round and says "he's just being a kid"... yeah, never saw them again!
                        Years ago my young nephew decided to throw his toy car at Mrs. IA. She picked it up and threw it just as hard back at him. It never happened again.
                        "I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."

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                        • #13
                          We spend the first two years teaching them to walk and talk, then (the good parents) spend the next sixteen trying to get them to sit down and shut up. The bad ones give up completely, like monkeys figuring their parenting duties have been fulfilled.
                          Sorry, my cow died so I don't need your bull

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                          • #14
                            Quoth EvilEmpryss View Post
                            ... trying to get them to sit down and shut up...
                            Gorilla Glue.
                            Applied at each end.
                            I am not an a**hole. I am a hemorrhoid. I irritate a**holes!
                            Procrastination: Forward planning to insure there is something to do tomorrow.
                            Derails threads faster than a pocket nuke.

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                            • #15
                              Quoth dalesys View Post
                              Gorilla Glue.
                              Applied at each end.
                              I love you.

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