I. Hate. Small. Children! >:(

[popcornbird]

The problem is not the kids. The problem is the parents. Society has no value of family life these days. Kids aren't raised properly, taught proper manners, etc. Its not their fault...no child is born with these things. Its like blaming a plant for growing 'crazy' when no one trimmed/groomed it. Kids that are not brought up properly are like a garden that is not cared for. Beautiful in itself, but ugly because of the lack of care/attention. If the parents didn't teach their kid anything, how is the child to blame? Young children are young...not old enough to know right from wrong on their own. I love young children. Good kids are adorable, charming, and lighten up this world.

[CathyBogart]

You're partly right, Karen...there are some kids I like, DBF's adorable little nieces for sure. Cataholic, you and Jonah are welcome in my store anytime. (It's a hobby shop, I'm sure you'd both have fun!)

But days like that make me want to get out of customer service and hole myself up in a cubicle somewhere and never see the light of day again. *sigh*

[Laura's Babies]

I was in a store one time and there was a Mama and her little girl about 4 years old. We were in the fabric department and the Mom was busily looking at fabric while the child wandered around and found things to occupy her bored time. She saw something on top of the pattern cabinet she wanted to get at so she pulled out the bottom drawyer to help her get up there. Before I could move or scream, she had stepped up on the drawyer and the whole pattern cabinet was on the floor, on top of the little girl. When they lifted it up, I expected one horriable sight and a lot of blood... Would you believe that child didn't have a scratch on her???

I made SURE I told an employee of the store that I witnessed it, the Mom was not watching the child and gave them my name and phone number.

It just beats me how some of these parents think their children are disaster proof, can be replaced or something. To many kids just flat out vanish, never to be seen again and I would be scared to death to take one out and take my eyes off of them for even a second, yet these little ones are set free to wander and run around like they are at home or someplace where nothing bad ever happens.

My DIL's mother got knocked down by a running 13 year old in a public place that was unsupervised and she suffered a long time from a cracked rib or torn muscle from it.

[wolflady]

I'm sorry you had such a bad day, Cathy, and I hope you're feeling better now. Migraines are the worst!!

I have to agree, I just can't stand unruly children, but I also agree that the parents are to blame. It's really sad how easy-going parents are these days (and how sad it is that kids are "parents" of kids more and more these days too, which doesn't help the problem). I can't even count how many times I've witnessed some atrocious behavior by a little kid, and the parent did nothing about it. I'm scared for the future, when little kids are running all over their parents like that in this day and age...*sigh*

On the other hand, parents who do care and take responsibility of their kids are to be congratulated. I know it’s not easy. It does make me smile when I see little kids being polite and doing good things. Too bad more parents don't want such results...I don’t think bad mannered kids are cute, nor are kids who swear!!

[CathyBogart]

As much as everyone may go on about parents being the root of the problem....the parents are the root of the problem, but when someone is shrieking in your face, the problem is the person in your face, not the person five feet away.

I don't buy the "They don't know any better" argument. When I was that age, I inavdertently said some rude things just because I didn't know any better(Some of them still make me blush remembering them), but by the age of six I had a pretty darn good concept of what was and was not obnoxious, as well as the ability to restrain myself. Both of my siblings did too, so it can't be all that unusual.

My IUD was the best investment I ever made, LoL.

ETA: MUAHAHAHA! I figured out the source of my migraines! I've been drinking this really yummy dandelion and sasparilla tea lately, but it seems that every time I do I wake up with a migraine. *sigh* gotta find another good tea....

[lady_zana]

I understand your frustration with unruly children. I can't stand them either. I'm just not a 'kid' person....a lot of people tell me when I say that that it's simply the parents' fault and that I don't like unruly children but the truth is I don't relate well to them.

My former boss has a toddler and occassionally on her days off, she'd bring him by for a visit. He is a wonderfully mannered baby; if anyone I know should be allowed to have babies, it is her. Everybody would rush over and coo over him, myself included...but in about ten minutes, I'd be looking for something else to do....I just get bored.

My husband's family is very family-oriented; they love to get-togethers for every holiday. Naturally, when we were first married, they started asking when the babies would babies and thought I was strange when I responded, "never." Now, they don't think I'm strange anymore; they know I am! I'm happiest with my cats, my books, and my writing and I don't mind sitting in a corner while the holiday festivites go on around me.

[Cataholic]

Small children, just like the rest of us, have bad days. Sadly, when you work in retail (or other places where children are permitted) you see bad days of lots of small children.

I do not make excuses for my son. He is 15 months old, and, well, let's face it, sometimes he has a 'bad' day! It is my job to circumvent these occasions as well as I can. That might mean leaving my meal on the table, or, the clothes or groceries in the cart (well, he really hasn't been that unruly YET ), but the time will come. I know it. How I deal with it is the problem. Will I immediately rush him out of the store? Probably not...why should I be any less entitled to the place as the drunk, the rude person, the smoker, whomever. But, because I am polite, well mannered, and a decent sort, I will do what I think is best (which is NOT letting Jonah ruin anyone else's meal).

When you keep in mind that he has far less of an ability to 'deal' with social settings as the adults around us, it doesn't seem as bad to me.

And, when I see adults around us smiling at his cute antics, well, it seems worth the risk of taking him out at all. Not to mention child services would be all over me leaving him at home! (JOKE ).

Really, dislike kids all you like, but, we all were ones once (some of us longer than others), and, remember that they will develop into adults, and hopefully not be scarred by all this dislike.

[Karen]

ETA: MUAHAHAHA! I figured out the source of my migraines! I've been drinking this really yummy dandelion and sasparilla tea lately, but it seems that every time I do I wake up with a migraine. *sigh* gotta find another good tea....

Okay, just gotta respond to this part - got a sample in a box of Celestial Seasons' Chai tea for their new Blueberry Tea, and it's great! Yummy, blueberry-tasting (not just smelling, like some herb teas), and it's pink! Try it! I bought a whole box last night.

[Kfamr]

Working in a restaurant that has a playground, I feel your complete pain.

My priority with that case is to get their food out as soon as possible, yet ten times quicker than that. Kids + food = QUIET!

But parents, please remember Barbecue Sauce is NOT finger paint... And it's NOT cute.

[CathyBogart]

Okay, just gotta respond to this part - got a sample in a box of Celestial Seasons' Chai tea for their new Blueberry Tea, and it's great! Yummy, blueberry-tasting (not just smelling, like some herb teas), and it's pink! Try it! I bought a whole box last night.

Thanks, I'll try that when I go grocery shopping tomorrow.

But parents, please remember Barbecue Sauce is NOT finger paint... And it's NOT cute.

*Giggles* I hear ya. *Shakes head* Silly silly people.

[Karen]

Thanks, I'll try that when I go grocery shopping tomorrow.




*Giggles* I hear ya. *Shakes head* Silly silly people.

If there's more than one kind, it's the box with the bears whitewater rafting on it! It is definitely tea season in New England - our current outdoor temperature is "26 but 'feels like' 15."