A lady was mean to my 4 year old today..

[3DisneyBuggs]

Me and DS went shopping today and went to McD's for lunch. We sit down and an old lady sits next to us. We're eating and I notice he gave the lady's handbag a flick with his finger. I told him how its rude to touch people's things. I know he's expecting this old lady to smile at him or something.HE then taps on the bench next to his leg. The lady says to him rather meanly can you stop that it's annoying. Now my DS asks her what her name is. She tells him it's none of your business. Poor DS looked so shocked. I was thinking not so nice things but didn't say anything. After he finished I took him to the pet store where the poor barking puppies took his mind off the rudeness.

 

[FireDancer]

Maybe she had a bad day and was just not in the mood to be nice. Maybe she is a crotchety old woman. Maybe she just has no patience for kids being kids.

I wouldn't let it bother you. If I'm ever in McDs feel free to sit next to me. I may find it in me to smile and tell him my name.

Be prepared though, if this thread is like some in the past there will be those that think what your son did was on par with Kristallnacht or, even worse, crying in Walmart.

 

[Clifton]

Old ppl lol

 

[smidgy]

Me and DS went shopping today and went to McD's for lunch. We sit down and an old lady sits next to us. We're eating and I notice he gave the lady's handbag a flick with his finger. I told him how its rude to touch people's things. I know he's expecting this old lady to smile at him or something.HE then taps on the bench next to his leg. The lady says to him rather meanly can you stop that it's annoying. Now my DS asks her what her name is. She tells him it's none of your business. Poor DS looked so shocked. I was thinking not so nice things but didn't say anything. After he finished I took him to the pet store where the poor barking puppies took his mind off the rudeness.

firstly in response to your thread, yes, some older people don't like to be bothered by young children while they are eating. that's why, when I go into a denny's or IHOP,etc, hubby and ask to be moved when they seat us by a table with young children. and are amazed when, once we are seated... and there are numerous other tables, they put a family with little kids RIGHT next to us, when we are obviously older.

this is the reason when we are WITH our grandchildren, who we know will be noisy (just cause kids are noisy... no fault of their own), we sit AWAY from other adults without kids.... just consideration. and kids are friendly... which is good, but some adults don't want to spend their eating time with little children. I know MY grandchildren are the cutest thing that God gave to this earth and I can't see WHY anyone would NOT want to listen to their Jabbering and constant questions (since my grandchildren are the most irresitable creatures on earth!), maybe the people sitting next to me might not feel the same
ok, tht being said. I would not bring them to a pet store that sells these "poor puppies"... in Illinois, we are cracking down on these puppy mills.
most decent pet stores don't sell puppies anymore. If you want a decent dog, buy it from reputable dog breeder. I f you don't want to spend that money, there are MANY puppies and dogs at the shelters for adoption.

 

[smidgy]

before I get flamed, I see that she sat next to you. her mistake. my bad. still you have to undestand that not everyone thinks your "angels" are cute. (only MY "angels" are cute!)
anyway , I just really wanted to respond to the poor puppy thing. never buy a puppy from a pet store.
the other night, I had a couple sitting by the fireplace. there were numerousother tables in the restaurant, but a family came in with 2 little boys and insisted on the table right next to theirs, so their boys could see the fire. (I really tried to talk them out of it.) the 3 year old was the loudest little boy I ever saw! and they thought it was the cutest thing, and this poor couple by the fire.....well, there went the romance. this was the loudest 3 yearold I ever saw. barking orders to me for more milk, throwing stuff, and the parents laughed. I tried to suggest they move to the "cozy nook", but they said they were happy where they were..... totally oblivious to the childless couple right next to them. (It slowed down, so I DID take the boys by the hand, and showed them the goldfish in our pond, to try to give the childless couple a break, but I did have t go backto waiting tables, I'm not babysitter) .... ps, that couple left me a nice tip (the childless couple, of course; the people with the kids that I took care of,with the mess , all the crumbs on the floor to clean up left me 10%)

 

[torinsmom]

I would have probably said loud enough for her to hear "I guess someone is not having a Disney day today, honey, " or some other comment like that. It is really ignorant for someone to come and sit down beside someone with a 4 year old if they don't like kids, you know?

Marsha

 

[Schmeck]

If the kid was in her space (touching her pocketbook) then he got what he deserved - signals that she did not want him in her space. Now, of course I'm questioning why she sat next to him in the first place - was it that crowded, no other clean tables, etc?

 

[SDFgirl]

What an old grouch.

 

[nuke]

The only one required to be delighted with your child is you. If some kid was touching my purse I would be annoyed also.
And yes I have a child but he knew the concept of keeping his hands to himself from an early age. The only ones he bugged were me and my husband.

 

[maelstrom]

If the kid was in her space (touching her pocketbook) then he got what he deserved - signals that she did not want him in her space.

 

[MushyMushy]

Sounds like an old grumpy witch!

Honestly if she wasn't in the mood to be bothered by a young child why on earth would she sit next to you? I don't love little kids all the time, and I have the smarts to request to be seated away from them in restaurants... but at McDonalds where you have a choice where to sit? Sounds like she was just looking for a reason to be nasty.

Oh well, sounds like you handled it the best you could. The little one will get over it and live to go on to face more nasty grouches throughout his life.

 

[VillageMama]

Be prepared though, if this thread is like some in the past there will be those that think what your son did was on par with Kristallnacht...

I literally just choked on my coffee.

Seriously, grouchies of the world... can't you just go through life exhibiting a little grace? A little tolerance... a little patience?

 

[rie'smom]

The only one required to be delighted with your child is you. If some kid was touching my purse I would be annoyed also.
And yes I have a child but he knew the concept of keeping his hands to himself from an early age. The only ones he bugged were me and my husband.

My child would have been told that it isn't nice to touch things that don't belong to him/her.

 

[Rora]

Sounds like an old grumpy witch!

Honestly if she wasn't in the mood to be bothered by a young child why on earth would she sit next to you? I don't love little kids all the time, and I have the smarts to request to be seated away from them in restaurants... but at McDonalds where you have a choice where to sit? Sounds like she was just looking for a reason to be nasty.

Oh well, sounds like you handled it the best you could. The little one will get over it and live to go on to face more nasty grouches throughout his life.

I literally just choked on my coffee.

Seriously, grouchies of the world... can't you just go through life exhibiting a little grace? A little tolerance... a little patience?

Agreed!!

OP- try not to let it bother you

 

[clarabelle]

I can see her getting irritated -but really couldn't she just keep her mouth shut?
Manners are not supposed to be a weapon that you use to slap around little boys.

OP -I have two girls -one who would not have dreamed of speaking to a stranger and one who I couldn't shut up.

 

[cabanafrau]

I don't see what the big deal is. For all you know she was on the way home from moving her spouse to a nursing home or was diagnosed w/ cancer. Maybe she wandered into McDonald's because she just needed a break & couldn't face heading home yet. Maybe she's not four, but perhaps she was carrying a really heavy load at that moment & didn't have time to make it all about some little kid who was being annoying.

IMO it's not such a bad thing for kids, even four year olds, to learn life isn't filled w/ Disney days & everybody around them may not find them precious. It's not like she physically attacked him or threatened to turn his puppy into a fur coat. Consider it a teachable moment & move on.

 

[hereyago]

Maybe she is old school thinking that kids should be seen and not heard. Just saying, older people were raised that way and raised their kids that way.

 

[wdwfan16]

Me and DS went shopping today and went to McD's for lunch. We sit down and an old lady sits next to us. We're eating and I notice he gave the lady's handbag a flick with his finger. I told him how its rude to touch people's things. I know he's expecting this old lady to smile at him or something.HE then taps on the bench next to his leg. The lady says to him rather meanly can you stop that it's annoying. Now my DS asks her what her name is. She tells him it's none of your business. Poor DS looked so shocked. I was thinking not so nice things but didn't say anything. After he finished I took him to the pet store where the poor barking puppies took his mind off the rudeness.

Did you not tell him to leave the old lady alone and to stop tapping on the seat? Bothering others in public is not a 4 year olds, or any year olds, right.

Was this the only open seat for the old lady to sit at? Is not, then she made a poor choice. She was rude and so was your son.

I love little kids and I will wave and smile at them. Even when it is obvious it does not bother me the parents still tell them to turn around and not to bother others in public. This is what we do with our DD too.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

While it does seem like the lady was being a bit grouchy, I have to admit that I'd be a bit put off by a child coming up and asking my name in a restaurant. I don't think it's really appropriate for children (or anyone) to go up to someone and ask that unless they have a reason to know. While I don't think the lady handled it very well (after all, your son is only four and probably didn't know any better), I do agree with her response...it really wasn't any of his business.

 

[si-am]

IMO it's not such a bad thing for kids, even four year olds, to learn life isn't filled w/ Disney days & everybody around them may not find them precious. It's not like she physically attacked him or threatened to turn his puppy into a fur coat. Consider it a teachable moment & move on.

I totally agree with this.