Why do parents do this to their children?

[whogirl'smom]

Sorry, didnt' mean to double post, but the server came up as too busy and then my reply vanished. I guess it didn't vanish after all, but I typed up a new one!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not another bash the OP thread!

That wasn't here before....

And I didn't bash the OP--I responded to a particular statement she made.

And to reiteritate--I never said she was offended or implied that.


CARDAWAY!!!!!

 

[chobie]

Some older ladies can knot their knockers.

My grandmother could and I fear what I will look like, someday, but I won't torture my grandkids by making them see me naked like she did...

 

[chobie]

Not another bash the OP thread!


And if everything was nobody else's business, there wouldn't be much DIScussion on here would there?

Not another bash parents thread!

I completely agree with that last statement.

 

[robinb]

You know ... stuff happens. Sometimes you just lose track of time and *poof* It's 9:00 and you realize that you haven't eaten. I always give parents more slack at WDW. Between overstimulation, long days, early mornings, meal schedules out of whack ... it's no wonder that some kids melt down. My guess is those parents were really doing the best that they could given their circumstances. I would also guess that they learned a lesson that night about exactly how far they could push their kids.

 

[chobie]

What bothers me about threads like these, and this is by no means the first of its ilk, is that by its very title its accusatory to parents. Now when I see a title that says "Why would parents do this to their kids", I'm thinking its about beating or molesting a child, not keeping them out past their bed time at WDW.

No, all parenting does not go out the door because you are on vacation, but some rules can be bent and routines disrupted. Simply by bringing the kids on vacation you are disrupting the routines. How much aside from that a parent wants to bend the rules is up to them, really.

At about the "selfishness" of parents, well yes sometimes we parents make selfish decisions, sometimes its not just about the kids, sometimes we do put our needs first. Every parent does it, some more than others. So unless the selfish decisions are a constant thing or the selfish decision results in irreparable harm, we really should not be castigating parents for doing it because evey parent does it at some point.

 

[LoraJ]

You know ... stuff happens. Sometimes you just lose track of time and *poof* It's 9:00 and you realize that you haven't eaten. I always give parents more slack at WDW. Between overstimulation, long days, early mornings, meal schedules out of whack ... it's no wonder that some kids melt down. My guess is those parents were really doing the best that they could given their circumstances. I would also guess that they learned a lesson that night about exactly how far they could push their kids.

Good point.
But I guess what I was just thinking is that they walked in knowing it would be a long wait, the kids were all tired and cranky, there are other options out there, why make them suffer. Hopefully the parents did learn that night how far to push them. They all looked miserable too.

I do have to say though, on this trip, I saw hardly any screaming, tantrum throwing kids. The only other incident that made me not mind my own business was when I observed some kids throwing ice at the ducks in the water at Flame Tree BBQ and then dumping their soda in the water. Thankfully, the ducks were unable to swallow the ice.

And then there's my pet peeve of unattended kids utilizing the lazy river at the water parks as a pool. In the past, the CM's used to tell the kids to get in a tube, but this time they seemed to shrug their shoulders. It's a lazy river for a reason, so lazy people like me can sit back, and relax and take a nice slow ride around the park. It just seems a little but dangerous to me for the kids to be throwing tubes around, swimming under them, stacking them up and trying to climb them. The water isn't very clean and when they were throwing tubes around, they were doing this by very young children.

Sorry, I just got a bit OT. My head is still back at the world. I'd take meltdowns around me at WDW over being here in Jersey on a cold fall night any day.

 

[ducklite]

I have no problem with that. If you read my OP, I say there were plenty of wide awake children there from other time zones. The falling asleep at tables and bar children were obviously not up for a meal at a restaurant that could not serve them right away. Or where they come in already tired and hungry, are told they have a 30 minute wait and insist on staying while their children whine about how hungry they are. I find that very unfair to these kids as well as the patrons who have to listen to the whining and crying.

I have said the same thing many times. It's not the kids who are wide awake and happy that makes you wonder about the parents. It's the kids who are obviously exhausted and would rather get a HAppy Meal and a pillow than wait for a table then "enjoy a nice dinner." Frankly nobody is enjoying it when the kids get to the point that they are exhausted. not the kids, not the other patrons who have to listen to the whining and crying, and if the parents are enjoying it, then it's nothing but selfish pleasure.

Anne

 

[msdznyduck]

This doesn't only happen at WDW. One of our pet peeves is going out around 10 or so, (which doesn't happen very often, since we are usually tired and cranky ourselves) and having tired, cranky kids in a restaurant. If they behave, or even fall asleep is one thing, but to whine, run around, while Mom and Dad basically ignore them, just drives me nuts. I always feel sorry for the little ones that are so wound up and beside themselves, and they are just out of control. They have no idea how to calm themselves down at that point. My kids were almost always in bed by 8. Even at WDW, they napped if it was to be a later evening. If they were too tired, well we should have planned better, and maybe tomorrow night. Pizza in the room or McD's instead of going out and having everyone miserable.

 

[robinb]

Good point.
But I guess what I was just thinking is that they walked in knowing it would be a long wait, the kids were all tired and cranky, there are other options out there, why make them suffer. Hopefully the parents did learn that night how far to push them. They all looked miserable too.

Another thing that happens to me, especially when my blood sugar is low and I'm not thinking clearly, is that I get *stuck* on a food/restaurant choice. I know there is going to be a wait, but I also think that there will be a wait elsewhere. So I stick with a bad choice instead of coming up with a better one. I realy try to eat reguarly so I don't get that way.

 

[LoraJ]

Another thing that happens to me, especially when my blood sugar is low and I'm not thinking clearly, is that I get *stuck* on a food/restaurant choice. I know there is going to be a wait, but I also think that there will be a wait elsewhere. So I stick with a bad choice instead of coming up with a better one. I realy try to eat reguarly so I don't get that way.

I can be the same way. This is just about the only time DFi and I fight. So I try and prevent this as much as possible. Probably why I feel bad when I see kids like this. I know how they feel.

 

[sha_lyn]

But I guess what I was just thinking is that they walked in knowing it would be a long wait, the kids were all tired and cranky, there are other options out there, why make them suffer. Hopefully the parents did learn that night how far to push them. They all looked miserable too.

What other options? Making the tired cranky children wait even longer by leaving to go to another restaurant so that you can enjoy your meal?

 

[Hixski]

There were a couple whining, crying kids. This was right by where I was eating and became a big distraction. And I did think it was a bit innapropraite for the other kids to have their heads down on the bar sleeping. Head down on your private table is one thing, but at the bar, another.

ETA:
I didn't find the sleeping kids annoying. I just felt really bad for them, because when they were awake, they looked miserable.

Children at a bar (in most states you must be 21 to sit at one) have always been a pet peeve of DH and I. Someone said they take the place of a paying patron. That is bad for the restaurant and also for the paying patrons (like us) who just want to sit and grab a drink or a snack. We usually try to eat at bars at home (Applebees, TGI Fridays, Chevys) so we don't have to wait 30 minutes or an hour for a table. Hard to do when families park there children there. At the Chilis by our house they do not let them sit there. I have seen some parents throw a fit about their 3, 5 and 7 year old not being able to wait at the bar.

 

[ducklite]

What other options? Making the tired cranky children wait even longer by leaving to go to another restaurant so that you can enjoy your meal?

Considering that McDonalds is a three minute walk, that seems like a pretty good option when your kids are exhausted and just want food and bed, even if they aren't able to vocalize that.

Anne

 

[Hobbitmomma]

We were in WDW in August. We made ADR's for every dinner to avoid just such a situation. (My two kids are 8 and 5) We made sure that we got dinner around 5:30 or 6:00 every night. In fact on the first day we had dinner at 3:15 which turnded out to be very smart because our flight had arrived at noon and by the time we got to the hotel and then to MK, the kids were starving even though I packed lunches for them on the plane. We made sure that they had naps each afternooon also, so that they weren't over tired for the evening things. I think that parents sometimes make the mistake of trying to cram too much into a day, not realizing that as much as the kids are excited to be there, they have limits. You have to be able to roll with it and have the flexibility to change plans if need be.

 

[LoraJ]

What other options? Making the tired cranky children wait even longer by leaving to go to another restaurant so that you can enjoy your meal?

It's not even about me. It's about the kids.

Other options:
McDonald's. And even if there was a long line, the kids could play with the legos next door while waiting.
I would guess Earl of Sandwich would not have a 30 minute wait plus whatever time to get your food.
What about Wolfgang Puck's? Do they have an express there? I have never been. The one around here is quick, even when it is busy.

 

[chobie]

Yep selfish pleasure, how dare a parent ever take that. We do sometimes, ALL of us do. We're all selfish, every human on this planet it. This is not about kids. If people are so concerned about children, they can go to a third world country and dedicate their lives to children who are truly having it rough. Children being made to stay up a little bit later at WDW is hardly worth getting upset about, unless of course what people are really upset is they are annoyed that their selfish pleasure was infringed on because they could not stop minding everyone else's business. Which is what these threads are about. They are not about children.


Everyone at WDW is their for their own selfish pleasure. No child is going to suffer long-term harm because of a few late dinners. In fact, I would bet many kids in third world countries would gladly trade places with these poor, children at Disney restuarants.

 

[LoraJ]

If my boyfriend and I decided to have a yelling fight out in public, and someone posted about it here on the disboards, I can't tell them to mind their own business. Once you show a behavior out in public, it is no longer private. You leave yourself open to be judged or to have someone have an opinion about you.

If someone didn't like the crocs I was wearing, I can't tell them to mind their own business, I have put myself out there.