Am I just a cranky old gal?

[Lachesis00]

Or are parent's not "shhhing" their children near as much (say as when we were kids) or keeping them under control? Joey and I went to the mall to pick up his glasses and HOLY COW people let their kids SCREAM and CLIMB on stuff and RUN AROUND.

In LensCrafters... a child who was 2 or 3... screeched the entire 40 minutes. The parents made a game out of it. Not once did they ask her quiet down. She also was in a car (stroller?) and rocking it back and forth, slamming it into the counter or her dad's leg. Her brother cried the entire time (probably at her screeching) and they did nothing to calm the poor little guy down

Later on we saw 3 little girls (maybe 5, 8 and 10?) who were getting into stuff around the soda area. They have a microwave down *low* and one of these girls nuked her soda (opened the door 9 trillion times and slamming it {we were not even close and it was loud}) and when she did take it out and took a drink burnt herself. Where was her parents or who ever brought her... I never did see them. The 3 girls walked out alone...

Also in Wildflower, 2 little boys one was maybe a little over a year, the other maybe 3 or so RUNNING around Wildflower. They would grab each other and swing each other around or shove (in fun) each other. Wildflower is not wide open spaces. A lot of chairs and tables close by each other.
More then once they almost took out a table or side of a chair. And they kept almost knocking people over... Even elderly people
Their parents were more concerned about getting food I guess. The parents when watching them seemed to encourage the rough play making a game out of it. The parents were young and seemed to be of mid-upper class. Not someone I would expect to let their kids act like this.
I know it was in fun... but I was ready to jump up if one of the little guys got hurt... I was really worried.

I hate to be a cranky old biddy but dog gone it... each of these situations could have been controlled. I felt the adults and children did not care about the other shoppers at all. And in at least 2 of the situations the children could have or did get hurt.

Also on the same line... 2 girls MAYBE 12 were in the bathroom in Barns and Nobel.... talking about getting beyond ripped and getting nice and <insert a F-Bomb x10 here> tonight.... and by many, many boys. And details... holy cow... they would make a sailor blush!! They knew I was in there... and had no problem talking.
WT.... I just was in awe and I was very very agitated. Joey on the other hand, who normally HATES stuff like this was as cool as a cucumber and said I was making too much out of it (except for the 2 girls in B&N-- that drove him nuts).

 

[Rhonda922]

Wow, I would've walked out of there with steam coming outta my ears. Jeez! Well, if you're a cranky old gal, then I must be a cranky young gal. I get so sick and tired of situations such as you describe and no, I don't have any kids.

 

[kristen821]

If my children were acting up I would have just left. There is no excuse for the 3 girls they are old enough to know better. The 2 boys running around should have been made to sit and if they wouldn't then the parents should have left. The parents of the screeching child should have at least calmed the crying boy down or at least tried. It depends on how loud the screeching is on what I would have done with that. I know being a parent out of habit you kind of tune out your own kids screech as long as they are happy because you are so used to it. So the parents may not have even realized it was annoying. I know Other children screeching seem to be so much more obnoxious then my own kids. I am assuming that is because I am used to my own kids voices. Then usually loud kids don't bother me as long as they are happy and being nice. As for the 12 year olds I would have said something. That is just crazy how they were talking. There is no reason for that. I know teenagers swear but to that extent I would not put up with it.

 

[Lachesis00]

The little guy wasn't even a year old (I don't think). Not once did they even try and calm him or his sister down. Well the dad kept rocking the "car" thingy she was in but she'd ram it into his leg or the counter.
Plus I think with the girl screeching and the baby crying... and this LC is pretty small quarters... it was deafening loud. How the parents could even hear the salesman clearly is beyond me.

The 3 little girls concerned me b/c I know the oldest couldn't have been more then 10.

I think that was just it, none of the kids were being nice except the 2 little guys in wildflower... but they were running around, swing each other, I am more then amazed one of them didn't get hurt or hurt someone else. I felt bad for being so cranky b/c they WERE having fun...

As for the 2 girls in the bathroom I think I was just too stunned. My 14yo boy wouldn't dream of talking like that... I mean he throws a few cuss words around now and then but never about boinking or getting drunk. He was even disgusted.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Nope, you're not an "old biddy". That's just unacceptable, and one of the reasons it gets me so worked up is that my sister does the SAME THING. She's got a 7 year old (almost 8) boy and a 4 year old girl. We don't even want them visiting our house because they are so horrible and their parents do NOTHING. I always figure out a way not to go out to a restaurant with them too because it's just plain embarassing!

I have noticed that kids in general have gotten worse. I work in a retail store and our winter display in the front window has been attacked many times. We've got fake snow in there and styrofoam "snowballs" hanging from the ceiling... kids even 10 years old will run in there and just start hitting the snowballs and throwing the snow everywhere.. tracking it all over the store. They won't even get out when our head MANAGER (a stranger to them!!) yells at them to get out!

 

[kristen821]

They should have picked up that baby. As for the girl she definately shouldn't have been aloud to ram the stroller into the counter that is destructive. It sounds like the screeches weren't happy screeches then that definately should have been stopped or they should have just returned at a later time when the kids were well rested. If the screetches were happy I can tolerate that but whiny screeches drive me crazy. If they were in a store they can be in and out of that would have been different but when you are somewhere you are going to be stuck at for awhile you need to respect other people.

 

[bgirldeb]

No, its not just you. Have you heard about the big debate over the coffee shop owner in Chicago that got boycotted by some moms because he posted a sign outside that said "children of all ages must use their inside voices" in his coffee shop?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=956031

 

[Skylarr29]

Oh my...not my children!!! I can not believe the lack of common sense some people have when raising children.... it is such a a huge responsibility..it drives me crazy to see things like this. I was with a girlfriend of mine at a little sandwich shop and a little boy (maybe 2) was walking behind his parents.Well they didnt even look back to see if he was with them and then he got his fingers completly smashed in a really heavy metal door....still the parents did nothing as he screamed they just kept walking so I jumped up and went and opened the door off the babies fingers. WHAT IDIOTS!!!!

I would never let my child scream somewhere and disturb others... I would always walk out and if my children misbehave in a mall or store then I will take them home... after that happens a few times they will learn to behave in public.

 

[sleepyone]

ITA...I have 3 kids and they all know to behave in public and at home. In drs. offices, they know they have to sit in their chair while the other kids are running around like hooligans and tearing up the place. They get praise and possibly rewards for being so well behaved and consequences for not behaving. Such as, we'll not go to one of their favorite locations in the mall, or they have to go to the car to have a time out, or their toy will be taken away for a "time out". They always know I'll follow through on what I say.

 

[sleepyone]

Oh my...not my children!!! I can not believe the lack of common sense some people have when raising children.... it is such a a huge responsibility..it drives me crazy to see things like this. I was with a girlfriend of mine at a little sandwich shop and a little boy (maybe 2) was walking behind his parents.Well they didnt even look back to see if he was with them and then he got his fingers completly smashed in a really heavy metal door....still the parents did nothing as he screamed they just kept walking so I jumped up and went and opened the door off the babies fingers. WHAT IDIOTS!!!!

I would never let my child scream somewhere and disturb others... I would always walk out and if my children misbehave in a mall or store then I will take them home... after that happens a few times they will learn to behave in public.

I'm amazed by this kind of "parenting" too. I hate seeing toddlers lagging behind parents in parking lots and stores. I don't know about the rest of the states but, here in Texas, it's ILLEGAL FOLKS, to leave your kids in the car alone....even while you run into the store for a second.

 

[pfishgirl]

WoW if my son EVER acted like that... which he never did, I was soooooooooooooooooo lucky I got a quiet child......... I would of walked right out !!! No ifs ands or butts !!

I have also noticed many children yelling.. mommy, mom, mooooom, MOM, MOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM !!!!!!!!!!!!!! and they are just being ignored... no wonder some kids act up ...

 

[kristen821]

My dd3 is one of those outgoing kids who have to talk to everybody. She does pick and choose who she says hi to though it is almost like she as an instict for who would want to talk to her and who is just not a kid fan. I know where I can take her and where I can't. I would never take her to a coffee shop or library unless it is story hour and kids are aloud to talk a little.

 

[kristen821]

Oh my...not my children!!! I can not believe the lack of common sense some people have when raising children.... it is such a a huge responsibility..it drives me crazy to see things like this. I was with a girlfriend of mine at a little sandwich shop and a little boy (maybe 2) was walking behind his parents.Well they didnt even look back to see if he was with them and then he got his fingers completly smashed in a really heavy metal door....still the parents did nothing as he screamed they just kept walking so I jumped up and went and opened the door off the babies fingers. WHAT IDIOTS!!!!

I would never let my child scream somewhere and disturb others... I would always walk out and if my children misbehave in a mall or store then I will take them home... after that happens a few times they will learn to behave in public.

I have a friend that does that all the time. She thinks she is the best parent in the world too, but whenever we go to the mall or anything her kids are alway following behind her while she looks around. Then she'll ask me where so and so is. I don't know how I would know since I have my own two kids to watch.

 

[Skylarr29]

I'm amazed by this kind of "parenting" too. I hate seeing toddlers lagging behind parents in parking lots and stores. I don't know about the rest of the states but, here in Texas, it's ILLEGAL FOLKS, to leave your kids in the car alone....even while you run into the store for a second.

Im pretty sure its illegal here in Florida too to leave your child in the car.WHat MORON would leave there kid in the car. We actually had a story on the news here a few months ago that the dad had a baby in the car and drove to work and forgot to drop him off at school and he dies. What a tradgedy!!

 

[sleepyone]

My dd3 is one of those outgoing kids who have to talk to everybody. She does pick and choose who she says hi to though it is almost like she as an instict for who would want to talk to her and who is just not a kid fan. I know where I can take her and where I can't. I would never take her to a coffee shop or library unless it is story hour and kids are aloud to talk a little.

My kids like to speak to people too but, they aren't running up to people to do it. When I go grocery shopping for instance, I get a buggy that will hold all three kids and, they must stay in it. As we pass people, they'll say hi to...or"Ma'am, you're baby is so cute", etc...

 

[sleepyone]

Im pretty sure its illegal here in Florida too to leave your child in the car.WHat MORON would leave there kid in the car. We actually had a story on the news here a few months ago that the dad had a baby in the car and drove to work and forgot to drop him off at school and he dies. What a tradgedy!!

I used to work at a municipal court, which was in the same building as the police station (and other city offices) before I had my kids. Idiots would leave their kids out in the running car to run in and pay a fine, or water bill. HELLO. YOU'RE AT A POLICE STATION. I'd get a kick out of the officers telling the parents to go get their kid or get a ticket...LOL.

ETA: Bwah hah ha

 

[Lachesis00]

I think it's one thing if the kid is talkitive, but totally another thing when the kid is screaming, screeching or what have you. I do not mind kiddos talking at all! It's when it makes me deaf or I can not hear the person I am speaking with it becomes obnoxious.

Oh and I got to thinking. I am PRETTY sure the little kid in the car stroller thing wasn't disabled in anyway. She did speak words and clearly. But most of the time she thought she was driving the Indy 500... with sounds and all. My first thought was maybe she is disabled... but then the parents ignored the baby too

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

Nope not a cranky old lady at all. I can totally sympathise with you. Kids are out of control and it's entirely my Generation's fault. (yeah, I was born in the 70's) We weren't taught how to raise kids. Our families were the first to embrace a different way of life, so this is what we've reaped... *sigh*

I've been childless by choice for all my adult life, and only now am I considering having kids with my BF (i'd get married first) but I guarntee you, it will be a well thought out decision.

As for the youngsters in the bathroom at B&N talking about boinking and whatnot... Heck they probably had just read "RainBow Party". *shudders* We sexualize our children Far too young here.

 

[Briarmom]

No, you are not a cranky old gal.
When we were at WDW a few weeks ago, we were on the bus from MK to AKL. My kids went all the way to the back where there was 5-6 seats in a row so I sat next to them. On my other side was a boy about 4-5 and he was crying. He wanted his dad, who was sitting up towards the front. At first it was fine. I have kids, kids cry. Then it began to get LOUDER and LOUDER. Within the first few minutes of the actual bus ride, he was SCREAMING at the top of his lungs. His mom (sitting right next to him) said nothing. About 10 minutes in, the whole bus is staring at him. People are laughing at me, because I am laughing at the whole situation. The mom said nothing. Oh, I take that back, she had told her other son (about 7 yrs) to sit down when he stood up and held on to the pole, and she admonished him for something else that was not a big deal. At 15 minutes (still SCREAMING) the mom said nothing...you get the picture. The whole bus is stunned. Other kids are even wanting him to shut his mouth. FINALLY, I say 'Oh COME ON!!' very loudly and for whatever reason, the father finally realizes that maybe someone needs to step in here. I was seriously just shocked. I mean, don't you at least tell your child to be quiet? And it was only like 1 pm or something. When we got off the bus, lots of people were talking about it, and none of us would get on their elevator. Later on at the pool, people recognized me and started chatting. I told them not to worry, I was going to Jellyrolls that night.
Seriously, it was the bus ride from hell.

 

[kristen821]

My kids like to speak to people too but, they aren't running up to people to do it. When I go grocery shopping for instance, I get a buggy that will hold all three kids and, they must stay in it. As we pass people, they'll say hi to...or"Ma'am, you're baby is so cute", etc...

My dd3 is always within reaching distance from me too! I don't think I ever had somebody not appreciate her hi. She almost always gets a reply back.