Children and temper tantrums at parks, misbehaving...

[2vets]

Foam earplugs...never fly without them. Buy the giant economy size bag at your local Lowes Depot (32 pairs for about $10) and put a pair in each of your pockets, purse, and carry-on. At the FIRST SIGN of audio distress, pop 'em in. And let the little darlings scream to their hearts' delight...

Oh, honey, I dn't think so!!! I had noise-reducing headphones AND earplugs. I actually don't mind kids on flights - they're better behaved than most teens and adults unless there's an issue. But this kid? Unbelievable.

Abernold - I'm with everyone else, and frankly, you're lucky I wasn't standing there, I'd have given them what-for!! Those stories blow my mind. Dirtbags. Utter dirtbags. Those people must be very unhappy with their own lives to behave in such a way.

 

[nascar-j]

Abernold,

I'm with Nicole and Maxiesmom on this one. You showed amazing restraint.
I know I would have had a nice cynical response. If that didn't get the point across, we'd be outside discussing it, probably to the point of assault.

For those that feel this is acting just as immature, you're right! And sometimes you have to bring it down to a level where the other person can understand it. Otherwise it's the same as trying to teach my cats calculus.

j

 

[jpeka65844]

There is a special place in hell for people who are mean to kids like yours who are vulnerable and just want to have a good time like other kids.

Probably the same " special place in hell that's reserved for pedophiles and people who talk at the theater" -- Shepherd Book, from the TV series Firefly

I LOVE that quote......THAT special place in hell????

 

[KorieDWnut]

Oh, honey, I dn't think so!!! I had noise-reducing headphones AND earplugs. I actually don't mind kids on flights - they're better behaved than most teens and adults unless there's an issue. But this kid? Unbelievable.

Abernold - I'm with everyone else, and frankly, you're lucky I wasn't standing there, I'd have given them what-for!! Those stories blow my mind. Dirtbags. Utter dirtbags. Those people must be very unhappy with their own lives to behave in such a way.

My little dd once screamed for 2.5 hours on a plane. I was mortified. I didn't know what I could do. If I could have gotten off with her...I would have. I tried holding her, distracting her, feeding her, playing with her. I tried talking to her and then finally sternly ordering her to knock it off...nothing worked. Short of placing my hand over her mouth or gagging her..there was nothing I could do. I tried ignoring her completely...walking with her up the aisle when I was allowed to get up. I brought her into the bathroom to try to reduce the noise when I could. I passed her off to dh and he tried everything too. Nothing. She screamed and screamed for over 2 hours. I was so embarassed. I just knew everyone hated me. She was never the type of kid to do that. I never figured out what her problem was..she was likely just cranky and tired, she was about 18 mos at the time. It was so awful. I just kept saying..I'm sorry, I'm sorry out loud to anyone who would hear.

 

[2vets]

My little dd once screamed for 2.5 hours on a plane. I was mortified. I didn't know what I could do. If I could have gotten off with her...I would have. I tried holding her, distracting her, feeding her, playing with her. I tried talking to her and then finally sternly ordering her to knock it off...nothing worked. Short of placing my hand over her mouth or gagging her..there was nothing I could do. I tried ignoring her completely...walking with her up the aisle when I was allowed to get up. I brought her into the bathroom to try to reduce the noise when I could. I passed her off to dh and he tried everything too. Nothing. She screamed and screamed for over 2 hours. I was so embarassed. I just knew everyone hated me. She was never the type of kid to do that. I never figured out what her problem was..she was likely just cranky and tired, she was about 18 mos at the time. It was so awful. I just kept saying..I'm sorry, I'm sorry out loud to anyone who would hear.

Korie -

Didn't mean for that to make anyone feel bad - honestly, in our case, it wasn't that the kid was screaming (OK, maybe just a little bit - but he could have been ill, perhaps...). It was the way the mother was saying in a very soft, timid voice, " Mommy's sorry, mommy's sorry we had to leave..." Not once did I hear her even ask her son what was going on, if there was something wrong, or to hold it down, nothing.

Keep in mind, too, that this was a 4 or 5 year old kid, not an 18-month old. We came back from the UK last Xmas (London to LA, a LONG flight), and there was a little kid, maybe a year-18 mo's - who screamed bloody murder for about 6 hours straight...the mother felt awful, but what do you do?? She was trying everything (her story sounds like yours, only she was alone, poor woman), and I think the baby was just sick. I was deaf by the end of THAT, too, but it wasn't the same.

Just wanted to say - that is not what I meant, and I'm sorry if it came across nasty

(Just realized, I never specified age of screaming child in my post!!!!! Sorry!)

 

[KorieDWnut]

Korie -

Didn't mean for that to make anyone feel bad - honestly, in our case, it wasn't that the kid was screaming (OK, maybe just a little bit - but he could have been ill, perhaps...). It was the way the mother was saying in a very soft, timid voice, " Mommy's sorry, mommy's sorry we had to leave..." Not once did I hear her even ask her son what was going on, if there was something wrong, or to hold it down, nothing.

Keep in mind, too, that this was a 4 or 5 year old kid, not an 18-month old. We came back from the UK last Xmas (London to LA, a LONG flight), and there was a little kid, maybe a year-18 mo's - who screamed bloody murder for about 6 hours straight...the mother felt awful, but what do you do?? She was trying everything (her story sounds like yours, only she was alone, poor woman), and I think the baby was just sick. I was deaf by the end of THAT, too, but it wasn't the same.

Just wanted to say - that is not what I meant, and I'm sorry if it came across nasty

(Just realized, I never specified age of screaming child in my post!!!!! Sorry!)

thanks yes, I am never that passive with my kids lol
I have seen people just still insist that parents CAN do something about it on planes..but there really isn't anything to do. It is unfortunate for everyone, I agree.

 

[Boncho]

thanks yes, I am never that passive with my kids lol
I have seen people just still insist that parents CAN do something about it on planes..but there really isn't anything to do. It is unfortunate for everyone, I agree.

Was it maybe your childs' ears? The plane taking off and landing really bothers some people's ears - sucking on something (or if they are old enough for ear planes) usually helps. I have been very lucky, flying has never bothered my sons' ears, now my sister, that's another story.

 

[abarnold]

Thanks guys- it makes me feel better that other people back me up on that one- and no it did not ruin our trip at all- in fact the "person" the one that yelled at my child and put his hands on him is a Major in the military- and he happened to be wearing Canadian flags all over him (now I have NOTHING against Canadians at all- some of my best friends are from Canada) but we demoted him and called him Captain Canada the rest of the trip. My dh said the ONLY reason Captain Canada wasn't flat on his back is that he could have gotten UCMJ action brought against him. Although the funniest thing is that he did get an earful from his wife as they were walking away. I told my mom I could think of a couple of names for him- and I don't swear- my mom who doesn't either agreed with my name for him. Captain Canada did ask for my dh's name rank and contact information so he gave it to him which shocked CC because he never thought he would- and he refused to give his information. You know to this day we never did hear anything about that day When we got back dh let his superiors know what happened just in case- and they all said that CC would get an earful from them for putting his hands on our ds. There was a part of me that actually wished he had called

 

[ireland_nicole]

Abrnold;
Good for both of you; I think I might actually bring a couple of your posts w/ me to WDW in Sept. for the moments when I might be tempted to, um, ah... You know, for when some "individual" decides to say/do something completely inappropriate to my kids w/ challenges. The last time, a couple of people made comments on how unfair it was that we got to bring our stroller everywhere, and I might have said something or other in the heat of anger. Your posts have reminded me that the example I give my children is more important than trying to metaphorically teach a cat calculus lmao: ) I love that by the way.

Anyway, I appreciate you sharing, sometimes you don't know how what you say can influence someone else.

Hope to see you someday at the World!
Nicole

 

[mgilmer]

When we went last summer we only had a couple of meltdowns- but non of them were from our party they were adults DIRECTED at our party.

Tantrum # 1: my oldest(11) and my second oldest(8) were being boys and had a small water fight with their camelbaks and got each other wet- well my oldest got my 8 year old in the private parts with water and said OMG it looks like you peed your pants. my 8 year old started crying about it (he is a sensitive kid) and a grown man came up and started yelling at my oldest for picking on his younger brother. He then proceeded to put his hands on MY child and yell at him for spilling a little water on the bus. We had already instructed our oldest to clean it up and he was- but this jerk kept verbally assaulting our child. My dh did not see him put his hands on our oldest or he would have lost it. The other person then started questioning my dh's ability to be in the military due to the fact that he was raising a terror that enjoyed picking on little kids Now I could have been a horrible person and call assault on a child since he went off on my child and then started putting his hands all on him- but I chalked it up to the fact that I thought he was having a rough day. my 11 year old was in tears and he doesn't cry at all- he didn't want to eat and when we ran across the other guy later on during the day he started shaking- I was FURIOUS- now do you guys think I had a reason to be upset???

tantrum #2 my mom and I took our dd and our youngest dh (who is special needs) to the story telling by Belle. Well my youngest when he gets too hot requires oxygen AND feeding tube feeds to keep him hydrated. Well in the story telling you are not allowed to have strollers- but we talked to a CM and explained to him that his oxygen tube and his feeding pump were attached to his stroller and asked if we could bring it in so he could enjoy it too. They said of course just make sure it's out of the way- which we did. Then this guy came griping at me for the fact that the stroller was there and asked if we were illiterate because the sign clearly stated that strollers were not allowed. I explained to him why our stroller was there and that we had already talked to a CM and they said it was alright- he then proceeded to tell us that no one cares about our little brat's problems and it would be better if NONE of us even came to WDW. My dad wanted to hunt him down after he found out- but we wouldn't tell him which guy it was because there was no need for another altercation.

we took 4 kids and there were no tantrums for 10 days and except for the few jerks that we encountered we only saw a few other families with tantrums- but they didn't bother us since we know it's to be expected!!

2x

 

[JackJack08]

Thanks guys- it makes me feel better that other people back me up on that one- and no it did not ruin our trip at all- in fact the "person" the one that yelled at my child and put his hands on him is a Major in the military- and he happened to be wearing Canadian flags all over him (now I have NOTHING against Canadians at all- some of my best friends are from Canada) but we demoted him and called him Captain Canada the rest of the trip. My dh said the ONLY reason Captain Canada wasn't flat on his back is that he could have gotten UCMJ action brought against him. Although the funniest thing is that he did get an earful from his wife as they were walking away. I told my mom I could think of a couple of names for him- and I don't swear- my mom who doesn't either agreed with my name for him. Captain Canada did ask for my dh's name rank and contact information so he gave it to him which shocked CC because he never thought he would- and he refused to give his information. You know to this day we never did hear anything about that day When we got back dh let his superiors know what happened just in case- and they all said that CC would get an earful from them for putting his hands on our ds. There was a part of me that actually wished he had called

Yes...... cause most of us Canadians are pretty laid back!

 

[tipsytrtle]

JNGwright... too funny

that is exaclty what I used to do with my daughter when she would meltdown in public.. i would sit next to her and start crying and whining too...she would look at me like "hey you're stealing my thunder" and would stop crying right away