How should DH & I have handled THIS?????

[momrek06]

Dh & I just returned from WDW/AKL! We were eating breakfast one morning in Mara (just about done) when a family of 5 came in and sat near to us. There was mom & dad and 3 sons. Two sons appeared to be 9 & 10 and the little one was about 3 or 4! The mom went to a nearby table and retrieved a lg box of crayons (AKL supplied them) and the kids got real busy coloring. Mom and dad went to get their breakfast. My DH says to me "what good kids, huh?" I agreed. Seconds after DH said that the little one stood up on his chair and started throwing all the crayons all over Mara. His two brothers started laughing hysterical so the little one continued WHIPPING these crayons all over the restaurant. Now just before this DH & I were getting up to exit. I was shocked, we both did not know what to do. And it seemed like most of the crayons were going on the floor until one AKL server came over and was confused about the crayons and then realized them were coming from THAT table. The AKL server then spoke to the children. Does anyone think DH & I should have done something? Do we have the right to speak to someone elses children? My boys are 23 and 20 so it has been sometime since I had little ones around me. What should we do in the future if we see something like this happening? I was thankful the AKL server quickly got the broom and started sweeping. The parents had still NOT returned with breakfast. UGH!!
Comments pls.

 

[Minnie824]

Unless the crayons hit me or my family, I probably wouldn't have said anything to the kids. I don't feel right stepping in saying things...the kids weren't your responsibility...however, as I said, if the crayons would have hit me, I would have said something to the kids and parents.

 

[MinnyGranny62]

Don't believe that I would do anything as they arn't our kids. Just be
thankful that they arn't.

 

[mickeyboat]

I would not have said anything, either, unless it had directly affected my family. The parents will know what happened when they get back to the table, and will deal with it then.

Denae

Edited to add: if I felt the child was in danger of being hurt, I would have spoken up, however.

 

[beckmrk04]

Nope. I think that one is a "be thankful they aren't relatedto YOU" sort of situation. Can't go around admonishing all the bad kids in the world- it'd be beyond a full time job!!

Now, if the crayons had hit you or fell into your food or something, then YES, by all means, I would have said something. Or, knowing me, started launching crayons back.... JUST KIDDING.

 

[Stitchfans]

Just like Mickeyboat said, if it didn't affect us personally I wouldn't say anything. But if it did, sure I wouldn't hesitate to tell them to stop.

 

[mom2boys]

I might have given the kid "the look". It usually works if the kid has any sense of right & wrong. It might have at least clued his big brothers in.
I don't think I would have actually said anything.

 

[Snowysmom]

I would not have personally spoken with the kids but I would have told a CM about it since the crayons on the floor become a hazard to people walking by, not to mention the possiblity of getting hit by a crayon. But it does sound like a CM talked with the kids and began cleaning up the mess. I guess I have to ask what were the parents thinking leaving the kids alone. One parent could have gone up to get the food and maybe the older child. But that is another issue for another day.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Having been a teacher, I might have yelled "Knock it off!" Or I might have given them the evil eye. Or possibly even told a CM about the unruly kids sitting next to me. But I think you did okay, too. It's too risky these days to reprimand other people's kids. (However, if they had been my kids, I'd hope any other adult would've let them have it! OTOH, DH or I would have taken one or two kids while the other parent stayed behind! )
Doncha hate when something like that spoils an otherwise magical vacation?

 

[luvmydogs]

I was once at Six Flags Atlanta, and a child (maybe three?), who was sitting in his mom's lap started lobbing packets of ketchup all over the place. Mom did nothing. Although none hit our table, I picked some up from the floor, returned them to the mom's table and said, "Sweetie, it's not polite to throw things in a restaurant," smiled and walked away. I wasn't sarcastic about it--just direct and non-confrontational. Mom never said anything to me, but there was no more flying ketchup.

It's pretty unlike me to assert myself like that, but I think the heat and the crowds just got to me. I didn't think it was right for everyone at the restaurant to be dealing with airborn condiments.

 

[mickeyboat]

airborn condiments.

Denae

 

[Aurora63]

I probably would have said something...because if crayons are being thrown all over Mara, before too long one is likely to hurt someone...probably not a major injury, but still...this is the teacher in me coming out!

 

[mainewmn]

I would have told the kids how inappropriate their behavior was, or told a CM about it but that’s about it.

 

[btass]

I would speak to the server - the server would have more "authority" in the restaurant than another patron would.

 

[Patty3]

I would have handled the situation the same way as you did.

 

[Aidensmom]

I would have spoken to the server or another CM in the restaurant. I would have been worried about someone tripping on the crayons or getting hit. However if they were hitting my table or my family, I would have said something to the kids myself, and probably spoken to the parents when they returned.

 

[Beth76]

No I would not have said anything unless they hit my table. Now if it had been knives or forks or something like that, I might have said something.

 

[goodeats]

I would have told the three year old to sit down and to stop throwing the crayons.

 

[pta-mom]

Yea, I would have said something...."Don't do that please! That's not very nice!" I guess I am of the opinion it takes a village to raise a child and frankly, I think part of why so many kids today are disrespectful, rude, bold, ignorant, fill in the blank______________, is because they too easily get away with things and boundaries aren't set early! Now, if the parents are there but not stopping it, than I wouldn't say anything...it would be their place to do it.

 

[princess pooh]

I would've spoken to a CM. I've slipped on a crayon before and having them all over the floor is dangerous.