The worst parenting I ever saw in Disney was...

[wicked.witch.of.wdw]

When my parents came to pick me up after my CP, we spent one last day in the Magic Kingdom, ending in dinner at CRT. The kids at the table next to us were running all over the restaraunt- beating strangers with the little swords the CMs gave them, running into people's pictures with the princesses, throwing bags on the floor, yanking on my ponytail... finally, after they nearly pulled out all my hair for the 82830843th time, I asked the kids to please stop it. The parents gave me the filthiest look and said "It's our job to discipline our children." So you sit there and do nothing while they're aggravating everyone in the restaurant?

 

[BELLEDOZER]

Obviously they weren't doing their job, and they were not in control of their kids. This is a sign of no control in the home. The kids are in control not them, the kids know it, and are taking full advantage. I've seen it time and time again in the schools here. No discipline in the home until school age, then the teachers get stuck with bratty kids with no respect for their elders, and out of control. A couple of years on my solo trip to DL while in line up for Peter Pan I had a 8 or 9 year old girl repeatedly bash into my back pack non stop for 10+ mins.I finally turned to the girl and told her to back off and stop bashing into me. Gave the parent a real nasty look, and she said nothing. From that point on when ever I felt my back pack being knocked around by the girl I'd give the parent an evil look, and she finally controlled her.

 

[klmall]

Just wanted to say that during my five days in the world last week solo, I had a lot of time to people watch and I saw only a few minor parenting misbehaviors. There were a couple times parents were yelling a bit loud for kids to finish a meal or catch up walking etc. and only one case of "I spent $2,210 for this trip and you better enjoy going to Blizzard Beach today" spoken to a surly-looking teen.

 

[Artoo]

On our last trip, I didn't witness a full-blown parenting meltdown (maybe I did, but I don't remember), but I did see something that really made me sad. Waiting for the bus to take us from our resort of HS, there was a dad with three kids (looked like elementary school to high school age) who was on his phone the entire time we were at the bus stop and on the bus. He was still talking to someone (I'm sure it had to do with work, from what I overheard of the conversation) when we got to HS. His kids looked so sad, his wife looked like she didn't even care. The horrible thing is, after we were done at HS and waiting for the bus to take us back to POFQ, the SAME family was waiting too and the dad was on the phone AGAIN. The kids looked absolutely miserable.

 

[TavieP]

In Feb, we were walking down the Streets of America in DHS. We rounded the corner and saw a family sitting on a bench...with their young son peeing in the street. Pants around ankles, peeing in the street. So classy. My DD6 even knew that was nasty.

I LOUDLY say, "It's not really New York City, y'all."

LOL! Although, to be fair - that's not cool in NYC.

(Although, to be EXTRA fair - I have SEEN it here.)

 

[TavieP]

I really don't think they meant it as a shot. They were on the NYC street in DH

What bothers me about this is that people seem to take it as self-evident that in NYC we just go around peeing in the streets.

Like I said in my last post - yes, I've seen public urination, once in 32 years: a mother of a young boy guiding him to pee over the edge of an elevated subway platform (both disgusting and dangerous) - but children squatting in the streets here is no more acceptable than in any other place in America, including Walt Disney World.

So, yeah. No.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

"Patience.... Something parents have when there are witnesses!"

I resemble that remark

 

[BELLEDOZER]

I resemble it too, but when my DS9 thinks that arguing should be an Olympic sport, I need all the patience I can get my hands on!

 

[BigGreen73]

Just wanted to say that during my five days in the world last week solo, I had a lot of time to people watch and I saw only a few minor parenting misbehaviors. There were a couple times parents were yelling a bit loud for kids to finish a meal or catch up walking etc. and only one case of "I spent $2,210 for this trip and you better enjoy going to Blizzard Beach today" spoken to a surly-looking teen.

I cannot count how many times I have have heard a parent yelling at their child saying, "Do you know how much I paid for this trip!?, you better be quiet (or stop crying etc) and enjoy it." Really!? I don't really think that your 6 year old knows, cares , or understands how much you paid.

I think some parents "meltdown" because they only go to WDW for the kids and really don't care about going. It's like a status quo or gives bragging rights to show off that they took their kid to WDW. See little Billy's pic with Mickey, I am such a great parent!

 

[klmall]

I cannot count how many times I have have heard a parent yelling at their child saying, "Do you know how much I paid for this trip!?, you better be quiet (or stop crying etc) and enjoy it." Really!? I don't really think that your 6 year old knows, cares , or understands how much you paid.

I think some parents "meltdown" because they only go to WDW for the kids and really don't care about going. It's like a status quo or gives bragging rights to show off that they took their kid to WDW. See little Billy's pic with Mickey, I am such a great parent!

There's some truth to your comments here. Most kids don't understand how much the trip cost or the extent you put into planning each day etc. And some parents meltdown because THEY want to enjoy the attraction or whatever more than the kid does!

The only parks parenting bad behavior on my end that I truly remember with DS from multiple trips was not at WDW but at Universal when we had walked our way all the way up the ramps etc. to I think it was "Back to the Future" and we were almost ready to get into the room right before the simulator vehicles when DS (maybe 8?) who had ridden on our last trip suddenly panicked and refused to ride. I lost it and and screamed down at him that this was not the time to tell me he was not riding! I really wanted to ride and we did not have FOTL and the crowds were enormous. I left the lines with him and felt terribly guilty later but at the time I was livid.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I cannot count how many times I have have heard a parent yelling at their child saying, "Do you know how much I paid for this trip!?, you better be quiet (or stop crying etc) and enjoy it." Really!? I don't really think that your 6 year old knows, cares , or understands how much you paid.

I think some parents "meltdown" because they only go to WDW for the kids and really don't care about going. It's like a status quo or gives bragging rights to show off that they took their kid to WDW. See little Billy's pic with Mickey, I am such a great parent!

I have to agree with this whole statement. Anytime I hear comments coming from parents saying that they spent x amount of dollars on the trip to their kids is beyond me. Kids don't understand the value of money so why should that even matter. I know it is just the heat of the moment and parents will say and do anything no matter how dumb it sounds or stupid it looks.

Also, you are right on the money with the whole parents "meltdown". DH and I love to take our kids to WDW because we enjoy everything about the place, and if my DD8 (who is more afraid to go on certain things) does not want to ride a certain ride or watch a certain show, then we don't meltdown over it, instead I calmly take her shopping or go on another ride while DH and DD11 do the original ride or show. Those parents that go to Disney because it is the "thing to do" are definitely ones you will see having the meltdowns (I know, I have witnessed them myself). Heck, if I went somewhere I really didn't care about going to, then I may be more inclined to have a meltdown myself sometime during the day. This is why we stick to going to Disney and to other places I and DH like to go visit .

 

[Nomad70]

The first thing to come to mind is from our trip in Oct/Nov '06. Hollywood Studios (mgm then) was not too crowded, it wasn't too hot, nor were lines for anything too long. We were waiting outside of Sci-Fi I think it was or something around there, and there was a character signing that was starting across from us. Two grown men began screaming and cussing at each other about who was in line first! Mind you, there were only a half dozen people in line. It was crazy. I know the little ones with them began to cry...We moved on to get away from it. Not sure what happened, but I just kept thinking wow, those poor kids.

 

[MK2010]

sorry but i find the kids with absolutely enormous cups of pop and usually already overweight to be one of the worse examples of parenting. i was shocked at what parents let their kids eat at Disney. (And often elsewhere). sorry if i offended people here but i think parents need to take responsibility for their children's eating habits - Disney is a perfect example of why diabetes will be the number one killer of our children's generation.

Hmmm. Interesting. My DD10 will die of complications from diabetes one day. Its a fact. She was diagnosed 5 days after Thanksgiving, 3 weeks before her 10th birthday, 1 month before Christmas. She was admitted to the hospital with a blood glucose level over 500. She weighed 68 lbs. and was 54 inches tall. Her Dr., one of the leading specialists in the country, never once suggested that it was my bad parenting or what I had allowed her to eat that caused this. Her pancreas shut down. Probably from a virus when she was young. So with all of the changes that my family has been through, the struggle to control her blood glucose levels, thank you for informing me that it is my fault my daughter has this death sentence. That is so kind of you and I wish I had found you sooner, before I paid the fees to our wonderful, genius of a pedi who has done a great job of treating my daughters disease and educating my family on Type I diabetes.

Those of you who see me at WDW this fall, I will be the one with the 10 year old diabetic girl who will be eating sugar free Mickey head rice crispy treats for her 3 p.m. snack, and sugar free cupcakes for her 8:30 snack- and should you desire to shake your head at me at those times- those snacks have just enough carbs in them to prevent my daughter from passing out in the middle of the night from hypoglycemia. Oh, and the Dr. has already warned she may need extra carbs because of the exercise and heat. There are only so many carrots and grapes you can expect a kid to eat.

 

[KigerKat]

Hmmm. Interesting. My DD10 will die of complications from diabetes one day. Its a fact. She was diagnosed 5 days after Thanksgiving, 3 weeks before her 10th birthday, 1 month before Christmas. She was admitted to the hospital with a blood glucose level over 500. She weighed 68 lbs. and was 54 inches tall. Her Dr., one of the leading specialists in the country, never once suggested that it was my bad parenting or what I had allowed her to eat that caused this. Her pancreas shut down. Probably from a virus when she was young. So with all of the changes that my family has been through, the struggle to control her blood glucose levels, thank you for informing me that it is my fault my daughter has this death sentence. That is so kind of you and I wish I had found you sooner, before I paid the fees to our wonderful, genius of a pedi who has done a great job of treating my daughters disease and educating my family on Type I diabetes.

Those of you who see me at WDW this fall, I will be the one with the 10 year old diabetic girl who will be eating sugar free Mickey head rice crispy treats for her 3 p.m. snack, and sugar free cupcakes for her 8:30 snack- and should you desire to shake your head at me at those times- those snacks have just enough carbs in them to prevent my daughter from passing out in the middle of the night from hypoglycemia. Oh, and the Dr. has already warned she may need extra carbs because of the exercise and heat. There are only so many carrots and grapes you can expect a kid to eat.

 

[Rapunzel]

Hmmm. Interesting. My DD10 will die of complications from diabetes one day. Its a fact. She was diagnosed 5 days after Thanksgiving, 3 weeks before her 10th birthday, 1 month before Christmas. She was admitted to the hospital with a blood glucose level over 500. She weighed 68 lbs. and was 54 inches tall. Her Dr., one of the leading specialists in the country, never once suggested that it was my bad parenting or what I had allowed her to eat that caused this. Her pancreas shut down. Probably from a virus when she was young. So with all of the changes that my family has been through, the struggle to control her blood glucose levels, thank you for informing me that it is my fault my daughter has this death sentence. That is so kind of you and I wish I had found you sooner, before I paid the fees to our wonderful, genius of a pedi who has done a great job of treating my daughters disease and educating my family on Type I diabetes.

Those of you who see me at WDW this fall, I will be the one with the 10 year old diabetic girl who will be eating sugar free Mickey head rice crispy treats for her 3 p.m. snack, and sugar free cupcakes for her 8:30 snack- and should you desire to shake your head at me at those times- those snacks have just enough carbs in them to prevent my daughter from passing out in the middle of the night from hypoglycemia. Oh, and the Dr. has already warned she may need extra carbs because of the exercise and heat. There are only so many carrots and grapes you can expect a kid to eat.

I feel you on this one! My daughter was diagnosed on 7/8/2010 @ 5yrs old. Type 1 Diabetes is an auto-immune disease generally set off by a virus. When she was diagnosed her blood glucose was over 700 and her A1C was 12.5 or something ridiculous. She was (and still is) a skinny little thing. Just this afternoon she said she felt low and tested - she was 56. Normally she will grab a juice box but I had an open coke, and let her drink some of it. Terrible parenting, huh?

Don't let the people who have no idea what they're talking about get you upset! Us BAD BAD diabetes moms should stick together!

 

[iwrbnd]

I have to admit my own moment that probably looked like bad parenting. My son wanted to do the Jedi training but he had just turned 13 the month before so was too old. Now we don't normally bend the rules for our kids but my son is on the autism spectrum so socially he's much younger so I asked Disney if he could do it. I was told by somebody higher up to just go sign him up and say he's 12. We explained this to my son so he knew we had permission to lie. I know, it sounds bad but we did it. Well, as we were signing him up and saying he's 12 his younger sister says very loudly "No he's not, he's 13"! I about died and felt everybody staring and judging! Uugghh!

 

[iwrbnd]

And about the coke thing. I see both sides. I come from a naturally skinny gene pool so I've never thought much about what I eat or drink. I ended up having a daughter who gains weight very quickly. I've had to change how we eat especially because at 9 years old she was diagnosed with pre-diabetes.

I wish I could take back all the sugary drinks and snacks I gave her as a toddler and introduced her to healthier food choices. I'm smarter now and we all eat healthy but trips to WDW are still hard to stick to good eating. I have an internal debate going on in my head constantly while on vacation about eating healthy vs fun snacks!

One thing about having an overweight child is feeling judged. I felt judged when she was overweight and I feel judged now because she has lost 20 pounds (medicine, exercise and healthy eating) and I know some people think I'm mean to be limiting her and that I'm trying to make her skinny like me. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I'm trying to save her from getting full blown type 2 diabetes! She is at her target weight and feels great with so much more energy.

 

[sdzta]

Sad thread. Amazing, however, that in the face of the child abuse, meltdowns, and everyday insanity we see posted here, we also have a small (but vocal) contingent of sanctimonious posters who somehow equate a soft drink on vacation with people choking and threatening their children.

Do you folks realize how absolutely disconnected with reality you are?

Here's a hint: choking a child not only introduces physical harm, but can emotionally scar that child for life. A soft drink yields some empty calories. Which is honestly worse? Please, use some logic on this question.

If you choose to ban soft drinks at all times for your family - good for you. If you feel that vacation is no excuse to deviate from your chosen lifestyle, more power to you. If you want to look down on the rest of the unwashed masses who sully their children with carbonated poison, be my guest.

But do everyone a favor, please - discuss this in another thread. Only a lunatic would honestly think that giving a child a soft drink is the same kind of example of bad parenting as some of the other craziness posted here.




Thank you, sanity.

Amen

 

[MK2010]

Don't let the people who have no idea what they're talking about get you upset! Us BAD BAD diabetes moms should stick together!

Thanks, Rapunzel!

My son wanted to do the Jedi training but he had just turned 13 the month before so was too old. Now we don't normally bend the rules for our kids but my son is on the autism spectrum so socially he's much younger so I asked Disney if he could do it

.

Bless your heart. Somebody on here earlier posted about a 12 year old screaming on an elevator and the Mom would pop a chocolate in his mouth. At first glance, I thought, "Yeah, shame on that parent." But then a couple of posts down someone pointed out that maybe the kid had autism or something else that was causing the behavior. I felt really dumb then. God Bless you for realizing that there are times for rules to be broken and for making a dream come true for your son. Plus, I'm really impressed that you went to Disney mgmnt. for permission.

She is at her target weight and feels great with so much more energy.

Congratulations to the both of you! I'm so glad she's feeling better and has more energy. Unfortunately, now that's one more person who can move faster than me at rope drop! I'll have to be on my toes!


There have been some really heartbreaking stories on this thread where you could definitely see that the parents needed to get a grip. But there have also been posts on this thread that have reminded me, the worst thing we can do as parents is instill a self-righteous, judgemental attitude in our children whether through condoning that type of behavior in them or setting the example by engaging in it. That will handicap them as adults more than anything else we do.