We went to a play area in the mall today. There were several small kids and these 2 older boys. The 2 older boys were jumping off the equipment (which is expressly forbidden). It was an accident waiting to happen. As soon as I realized that the mothers of the 2 boys were sitting next to me I decided I'd had enough.
I start saying (loudly) to no one in particular that they needed to quit jumping before they land on my kid.
I kept up this running commentay until one of the mothers got up and started patrolling her kid.
The other mother was oblivious.
I went to feed Sugars, when I got back those two mothers were gone.
I told Subvet my next step would have been to go up to the mother and tell her if she couldn't make her kid follow the rules of the playground I'd get mall security and have them removed.
Now here's the reason I'm sharing this. I had been told ahead of time by the mom I went with that this scenario plays out often when she's there and she doesn't know what to say.
Folks, don't sit there and have to choose between putting up with it or leaving. THEY'RE the ones breaking the rules. If you make it uncomfortable enough for them, they'll leave.
There was another little boy there who kept going up to the little ones and pulling hair and pinching faces.
Now my 3 year old was actually taller than the 42" marker and Gator-boy isn't still long enough for this kid to concern me. But I watched another mother first tell her girl to tell the boy not to pull her hair, then tell the boy's mother when he pinched her girl's cheek hard enough to make it red. The mother did nothing! If my kids were in danger from this cretin, I'd have told that mom I was gonna spank her child the next time he touched my kid. And I would have said it LOUDLY.
DO NOT ALLOW TINKLE-POOR PARENTS & THEIR LITTLE SNOTS TO RULE THE PLAYGROUND!!!!!!!
It is up to us to stand up for our children in all situations, this is how they learn that it's OK to stand up for themselves.
And if you're not quick on your feet, plan out what you'd say in different situations ahead of time.
OK now everyone sing with me....little 80s flashback here.
We're not gonna take it
no
we ain't gonna take it
we're not gonna take it
anymore!
9 comments:
So you're a Twisted Sister fan too, huh? ;D
Girl, I just know we'd get along like a house on fire if we ever met, 'cause we sure have a lot of things in common. I'd have been in there swingin' with you if somebody's kids were pickin' on Jessica or now on Emmy!
Love and hugs,
Diane
Oh I so agree with everything you said in this post! I remember when my boys were little and I'd bring them places to play where other kids weren't behaving...if one of them touched my kid, I'd go up to the mother and tell her if he didn't stop, that I would go hit him back and it would hurt a lot more than if my kid did it to him!!! hehe Hey, you don't wanna play by the rules, well then take the consequences!! Right?!! xoxo
I am with you! I am so sick of mother's raising monsters. These pain in the neck children will never go far in life if they are not taught/corrected into the proper behavior. Rules are vital, and these moms are loopy. I have a habit of correcting kids and have no problem being the responsible one. Bullies should never be allowed to reign.
So the chorus pipes in NO we're not gonna take it!!!
OK, now I'm gonna be humming that song all night long!
Thanks guys, I was watching all those other mothers at the playground thinking I was a barbarian or something but good grief! We're talking about safety issues here...not just loud yelling or something.
Anyway, nice to know I'm not alone. Subvet stood right by that kid jumping off the stuff the whole time because (of course) it was the coolest plaything for my 2. He says he just didn't know what/how to say....it's a lot harder for a (6'3") man to correct either the kids or the mothers in today's world. I can't fault him for being wary.
I was born with a playground monitor gene that is very hard to ignore. I see danger and rules broken as a threat to all of our peace. I'm glad my kids are adults now (I'm enjoying a little playground peace) but I know as soon as I have grandkids I'll be back on patrol!
hey that's not barbaric... raising your child to be a nasty monster that no one else can stand to be around is barbaric!!!
thanks for stopping by.... I did this company thing backwards... I started with the girls... now I have two boys added to the mix....I should have STARTED with the boys when I was fresh!!! Not after 12 days with 10 girls!!! hmmm oh well... I'll definitely survive this!!! it IS still nice to have the boys here... they just seem to take more attention and aren't as easily entertained as the girls are! I should have known this-after all I WAS raised with 5 brothers!!
boys are....well, boys. ;-)
Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, you just get cooler and cooler in my eyes!! =)
Seriously, thank you for this post. I never know what to say in these kinds of situations. I don't know what to say when kids are acting crazy and their parents aren't around, also. For example, there are these little maniacs about 8 or 9 who come to the pool without any adults, and get all wild. They don't listen to me at all, and I am too timid to MAKE them listen. Last week I was holding my baby in WalMart and this kid riding a display bicycle ran INTO me from behind and it hurt!! I was standing there looking stupid rubbing my back, and my husband started yelling, where's your parents, and then when his dad appeared, he started yelling at the dad. I was embarrassed by the scene, but I guess someone needed to tell that dad to watch his son...
I used to be embarrased by the scene....then I realized that THEY'RE the one who caused the scene, not me, not my husband. If the fool father had been watching his child there'd be no scene. and you wouldn't have a bruise on your back. What if your little one'd been walking along and he'd run him over on that bike?? I'm with your hubby on this one. About the pool. Complain to the managment. Most apts have a no child under ___ unsupervised and can send them out of the pool area. If there's a safety risk involved...Don't be afraid to dial 911. Every year many many many children DIE from accidental drownings. Pools are not a place to screw around unsupervised.
Just start singing good ol T.S. and yell as loud as you can, to as many people as you can! ;-)
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