Customers and their yelling kids

[CrazedClerk]

There are SOME good parents out there.

Awhile back this kid, obviously excited, ran up to our store and threw the door open, not paying attention to his brother who was right behind him. Bro caught a face full of door (and I had to try SO hard not to laugh) but the mom promptly dragged the first back outside, scolded him for being so careless and never let him get near our games.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I had some harpy in a pickup truck scream at me because I had my then two-year-old son on a safety harness and leash. It is rather disquieting to be scolded for trying to be a good parent.

Let me tell you something, I can PROMISE you that when mine is old enough to toddle along after me, she WILL be on a leash. In fact, I wish my mother had put me on one. I was very afraid of getting separated from her when I was very small. All the perverts, sickos, nutjobs, et all, she's going to be lucky I don't have her wearing a frigging spacesuit and have her locked in the basement till she's thirty.

A mother turns her back for 5 seconds and her two year old is taken and killed by two CHILDREN. You guys are familiar with that particular bit of screaming horror, I'm sure? I feel like vomiting every time I even think about that story.

I also promise you that anyone who does not like my child being on a leash can kiss my ASS.

[Jester]

I also promise you that anyone who does not like my child being on a leash can kiss my ASS.

At the risk of being forced into posterior smooching, just thought I would point out that there is such a thing as being way over-protective, something we have commented on here in the past. I am not saying you are, just pointing out that kids that are smothered and over-protected often have psychological problems, in addition to not being prepared for what the big bad world has to offer.

And with that, I am going to run quickly before Kink lassos me in and forces me to "pucker up."

[Kogarashi]

Hey, I think those saftey harness/leash combos are a great invention. Kid gets to walk around on their own two feet and get some modicum of exploration in, but Mom doesn't have to worry about Junior wandering off too far or getting into too much trouble. If I have an overly active and inquisitive toddler who doesn't want to stay put in the shopping cart, I'm so getting one of those leashes.

[AFpheonix]

I am not saying you are, just pointing out that kids that are smothered and over-protected often have psychological problems, in addition to not being prepared for what the big bad world has to offer.

Definitely a child's exploration of their surroundings by themselves is a good thing, fostering good thinking skills and imagination. But we're not talking about home or somewhere safe. We're talking about busy shopping malls, parking lots, and other places where a kid potentially darting away from mommy could get him smooshed or taken, or potentially dangling hands into zoo exhibits and getting critters exterminated in the name of rabies prevention.

[Retail Associate]

I also promise you that anyone who does not like my child being on a leash can kiss my ASS.

99% of the kids I see in my store NEED to be on a leash...they also need a muzzle!

When my son was little he knew if he ever behaved like a maniac ANYWHERE, he'd be beaten within an inch of his life! (Well, almost.)

One day, before I became a mother, I was standing in line at a dept store waiting to check out. A woman ahead of me had her child with her. I don't recall if it was a boy or a girl but the child was behaving badly. The mother kept telling the child to behave but the little monster continued. Finally, in frustration, the mother said, "I'm going to beat you bloody!"

I got a bit of a chuckle out of that and used it to 'threaten' my kid once or twice.

[Rapscallion]

Yesterday, I was assigned the reins to one of the honorary nephews I seem to have accumulated. He's about sixteen months old, and we were headed towards the car park and everything.

I'm not one of nature's parents, but I did amuse myself by shouting "Mush!"

Various parents around seemed to like it. I saw a couple taking notes.

Rapscallion

[Lace Neil Singer]

My dad used to say that with my 2 little brothers, back in the day when they were teeny and used to have to be leashed, cuz otherwise they'd run off in different directions.

[Casino Jockey]

I dont think the kid had Tourettes, it's quite possible he had some form of autism tho.

I have a form of autism (asperger's syndrome) and this is exactly why i can't handle screaming kids. this is why i get dirty looks on the subway because i have my ipod on loud - not top volume mind you, but loud enough to drown out all the other noises on a train. if i didn't have my ipod i could not ride the subway to work.

I can control the visual stimulation for the most part (heck i work in a casino with flashing lights) and the slot machine noises don't bother me much. it's the high pitched constant noises - buzzers on a slot machine for example. one way to get priority service in my area is to set off a slot machine alarm!

and now back on our regulary scheduled topic....

[Ree]

(Sorry this thread is becoming another debate on spanking. Let's remember to keep it nice.)

As South Texan pointed out, please don't turn this into a debate about spanking or the use of a harness on a child.
We have people on both sides of the child discipline/harness debate, and everyone feels their opinion is the right one, so topics like this easily get out of hand.

Things have stayed civil so far, so please, to anyone who wishes to join in this thread, please keep in mind that those who have already participated have managed to discuss things without argument, and gauge your comments accordingly.

[Kusanagi]

I was spanked and I turned out just fine. Heck, I'd say I'm better than 90% of the people I deal with on a normal basis.

I was on the leash sometimes too, but that's because I was a little terror a few times and my parents wanted to keep an eye on me.

With CPS, it's difficult. I mean, any normal person can see there's a difference between a swat or a spaking and beating the hell out of your kid in a fit of drunken anger. When I was spanked, it was because I was told several times not to do something, and I did it anyway. I knew exactly why I was being punished, and that's the difference.

Kids today though are alot smarter than people give them credit for. A neighbor of mine got her child taken away because she gave him a swat when she had to chase him down the street. Some lady called the cops, and when CPS interviewed the kid, they asked "Did mommy hit you?"

What an underhanded trick. They don't ask "Did she spank you because you were doing something wrong?", it's "Did she hit you." Of course the kid will answer yes, especially if they are angry at mom over it.

Viola. Kid gets whisked off to foster home or "protective custody".

[ArenaBoy]

Kids today though are alot smarter than people give them credit for.

I find that true, in fact I learned it the hard way when I worked Disney on Ice last year. I was a cashier and this car comes up to me containing a mom, dad, and 2 boys. They both look to be eight or nine. While the mom is digging around for money, one of the kids THROWS a toy at me and it got me in the arm. Considering the range and the toy which was a replica gun meaning it had metal it hurt a bit, it was a wincing pain. As soon as I try to tell the mom what her son did, the son cuts off my words and says that it fell out of the car and that I wouldn't pick it up. WTF is up with that? I picked up the toy and put it back where it belongs. The mom proceeds to yell at me for claiming that her child would do such a thing. In short, I got owned by a 9 year old.

[Kusanagi]

Stupid little brat and likeminded mom story

Would you have had any ability to deny them entrance at that point? If I had the power in that situation, I would have never let them in.

[ArenaBoy]

They already paid and they drove off, and I need my supervisor's permission to do that. I asked for a supervisor, but no he's flirting with the new girl who happens to be working also and happens to be very cute.

[Ree]

Viola. Kid gets whisked off to foster home or "protective custody".

Well, it's not quite as simple as it seems. CPS does have to follow criteria.
A child doesn't usually get taken away simply on their word that "Mommy hit me."

The questions they ask have usually been determined by a team of psychologists and child experts, and they watch a child's body language, how they interact with their family, whether they have a medical history of ER visits for "accidents", or whether teachers have noticed unusual bruising that the child has trouble explaining, or tries to hide.

That being said, mistakes do happen and children do get taken from loving homes on a misunderstanding, but those situations are not as common as urban legend would have us believe.

Most child welfare agencies in the US or in Canada have a no corporal punishment policy. They do not believe in spanking...ever, even if it's only a swat on the bottom.

When we became foster parents, we had to fill out a questionnaire, and I was honest about my beliefs, but they let me have children in my home anyway.
I see nothing wrong with an open handed swat on a diapered bottom to get the point across. I don't, however, believe in spanking an older child, and I certainly do not condone the use of objects to spank.
If you use your hand, you can control the force. If it's hurting you, it's hurting them.
If you've done your job right when they are small, they should already know what is acceptable, and spanking shouldn't be necessary anyway.

I use my voice to control the situation. A firm, "NO," while I am physically moving my child away from a situation, rather then standing there yelling, "Get away from there or Mommy will spank."