What is wrong with people?

[lindalinda]

I am sure the OP and several others on this thread have NEVER once had an off day or had kids that were particularly cranky. Thank God there are such perfect parents in the world. How else would us failures know who to emulate?

I have my own "Bratleigh" and "Snotleigh" and I am the first to admit they are not perfect.

I have always noticed your siggie pics of little snotleigh (luv the pigtails!) and bratleigh (he-man). They sure are cuties!

Ever notice how sometimes parents have only angel and one not-so-angel? Are they only parenting the one?

Not to say they shouldnt be removed, of course they should. I am just not gonna throw stones. Usually, when I see a "bratty" child I see an exhausted parent, and I have been there.

 

[Nana Annie]

I must have my dense cap on today because it's not evident to me. I'm fortunate to have a very well behaved child who can be taken just about anywhere. Of course DH and I know her limits and do everything in our power not to push her past them. Had that been my child I would have taken her out.

I agree. Just because we objected to the words the OP used, does not mean we have children who are brats.

I think you are all in the clear. I am pretty durn sure the Principessa was directing that remark to me, especially since I was the one quoted

 

[CEDmom]

I have always noticed your siggie pics of little snotleigh (luv the pigtails!) and bratleigh (he-man). They sure are cuties!

Ever notice how sometimes parents have only angel and one not-so-angel? Are they only parenting the one?

Not to say they shouldnt be removed, of course they should. I am just not gonna throw stones. Usually, when I see a "bratty" child I see an exhausted parent, and I have been there.

What's funny about my DD7 is that she saved her meltdowns for home. There were days when she was little that I'd purposely take her out because I knew she'd behave and I needed a break. We'd go to the mall where I'd fortify myself with Starbucks and then bring her home and brace myself for the show .

 

[lindalinda]

What's funny about my DD7 is that she saved her meltdowns for home. There were days when she was little that I'd purposely take her out because I knew she'd behave and I needed a break. We'd go to the mall where I'd fortify myself with Starbucks and then bring her home and brace myself for the show .

I have a friend with one of those kids. She actually talked to his K teacher ahead of time to warn her of his behavior probs, but the teacher just gushed what an angel he was!

 

[MushyMushy]

I have always noticed your siggie pics of little snotleigh (luv the pigtails!) and bratleigh (he-man). They sure are cuties!

Ever notice how sometimes parents have only angel and one not-so-angel? Are they only parenting the one?

What?? That's ridiculous! Kids are so different -- some parents are lucky to have more than one "angel," while some get two "bratleighs." I think a lot of people give themselves wayyyy too much credit when they end up with nicely tempered kids. Just because one kid is well-behaved and the other isn't doesn't say much about the parent.

I'm more hands-on and strict with my "snotleigh" (love these terms ) than I ever have been with my "angel." My parenting style is a reflection of THEIR temperaments, not the other way around.

 

[CEDmom]

I have a friend with one of those kids. She actually talked to his K teacher ahead of time to warn her of his behavior probs, but the teacher just gushed what an angel he was!

I can relate to that. DD is almost 8 and has pretty much outgrow the meltdowns. They didn't happen that often but when they did, look out . I swear her head spun around and pea soup shot out of her eyes . With other people she was a model child and no one believed me including my mom. However, that changed when she put on an oscar worthy performance one night for my mom . The woman never doubted me again .

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Are they at Camp Billings? I have friends whose kids go there, and they looooove it. I am toying with the idea of sending my kids next year, but they will be only 7 and 8, and we may start with a one week GS camp for their first time. It is supposed to be absolutely beautiful here this weekend.

We love it here, too. It is a great place to raise kids! We are on vacation next week in NY (Lake George).

My boys started camp in Vermont when they were 10 (they went to day camp here on LI beginning at 5 years old) - we started our daughter at 7 only because we had so many years of experience with the camp and she was ready to go (her birthday is in September - so she was the youngest out of her group - although they were all going into 3rd grade). She went for 4 weeks last summer and 4 weeks again this summer. Next year she wants to go for 8 weeks. My dh and I will be completely childless for 8 weeks next summer. I can't even begin to imagine what that will be like!

My kids absolutely love camp - it kills me not to see them for so long. But, they love the experiences they have, the friends the make. Truly fantastic. I swear the place is magical. When we go up for parents' weekend, we just don't want to leave. Love it. I am in awe of my children when I see them up there - how they are so independent and strong and brave. It's is an indescribable experience what it feels like to see them after 4 weeks and hear their voices for the first time and listen to their stories and see the bonds they've formed with the other campers - it is really something.

I'd rather not say what camp they are at for security reasons - some people here seem to be really nutty and while my kids are not in my presence, I'd rather not say where they are, kwim?

Have a blast in Lake George!

 

[Stimpy]

I can relate to that. DD is almost 8 and has pretty much outgrow the meltdowns. They didn't happen that often but when they did, look out . I swear her head spun around and pea soup shot out of her eyes . With other people she was a model child and no one believed me including my mom. However, that changed when she put on an oscar worthy performance one night for my mom . The woman never doubted me again .

That's my DD too She's a terror with us. (Which totally threw us off b/c our DS was always such a good kid and still is!) People never believe us when we tell them until they actually experience it. No one can understand why we would say such things about such a sweet little girl. Let's just say my parents will never doubt me again either!

 

[Stimpy]

OP, I do agree with you on pretty much everything. (Fellow LI'er here and yes, I agree, I see it all the time around here!) I've been to the planetarium and can back up the OP, getting up in the middle of the show isn't really that easy. It would be much easier for 1 adult to take a child out for a one-way trip than for 1 adult to go out and come back in, find their seat, climb over other people etc.

I think the backlash you might be getting is calling the kids "brats"....I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you but it the word makes it sounds like you are putting the blame on the child. The blame should be put on the parents/adults. I've noticed sometimes around here that it's safer not to "attack" children

BTW, I think I was more shocked to read that you homeschooled your DD! I rarely hear that anyone around here does it. Congrats to you!

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

I think the backlash you might be getting is calling the kids "brats"....I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you but it the word makes it sounds like you are putting the blame on the child. The blame should be put on the parents/adults. I've noticed sometimes around here that it's safer not to "attack" children

BTW, I think I was more shocked to read that you homeschooled your DD! I rarely hear that anyone around here does it. Congrats to you!

We made the decision for this year and next - (4th and 5th grade). We are SO SICK of the ELA testing and the endless prepping for the testing. The stress put on these kids is ridiculous - learning is no longer fun. Our district is consistently #1 or #2 - at the top of every list, etc. But, the cost is too high. Our daughter should not be crying and stressed out at 8 years old because of the pressure, and I'm talking pressure, that is put on these kids.

In the end - though - the education my daughter was receiving was so vastly different from the education my sons received (particularly my oldest - who never had to be subjected to these ridiculous tests).

It's all about how the school rates in Newsday - not the quality and depth of the education the kids really receive.

It blows my mind that we live in this area and even considered HSing - never mind that we are actually doing it. But, we get a one shot opportunity to provide our children with an education - and I want my daughter's to rival her brothers'. Really is a shame that it's changed so much because of these tests.

As for calling kids brats - it really is how I feel. I think, for so long, people have been sugarcoating the rude and inappropriate behavior of children and their parents that allow it to continue. I think, sometimes, when speaking amongst adults (I didn't call the child a brat to his face - or even to his parents) we need to call a spade a spade and a brat a brat. Here, where I live, I call it the "Oh no, not my child" syndrome. I feel that if people object to it so deeply, they may really want to analyze whether or not their child could be considered a brat. I agree it's the parents' fault - totally. But, when a child continues to behave like that, unstopped, that's what they are.

I am not saying that kids behave perfectly all the time - no one does. What I am saying is that they'll never learn to be considerate and "brat-free" if they are not taught how to be by their parents. So, in the company of adults, I will continue to refer to children who interfere with my (and others) enjoyment of any activity to which there is no real need for children to attend as brats.

If it makes people uncomfortable, so be it. If the kids hadn't made me uncomfortable in the first place, I wouldn't be calling them brats.