Why do I have to be the one… [15]Comments on:

By: Emma

Emma — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:46:42 +0000

I have had the same feelings many times when I tell a kid to stop running up and down the hallways of my apartment complex, screaming at the top of his/her lungs. I’m sure they think I’m a total nag but that’s okay.

By: kaylen

kaylen — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:59:19 +0000

It takes a village…and we are all part of the village whether we like it or not. And especially whether other parents like it or not….I’ve had to parent stray kids plenty of times. Like the ones who used to play directly outside our apartment door and would be loud and childlike (tiring, but somewhat acceptable sometimes), but then they started leaving toys and garbage -lots of garbage-there. I nearly made a little girl cry when I gave her my lecture about picking up after herself and she is a nice and pretty little girl and does she really want to shame her mother like this?? I was a bit ridiculous, but I was DONE with them and I tried to be nice!!
And there were the little boys who would ride their bikes through the parking lot like it was their own personal effing world and the rest of us were all just observers…but one time I was almost more of an observer when one of the boys rode his bike too close to my car and I almost smashed him like a bug – accidently!!- and then I had to give him a good parental lecture on how to be safe.
I think you should feel free to jump in and lay down the law if they are being hoodlum like.
.-= Author’s last blog post… RTT – Started Out Strong, But Then it Got Ugly.Thanks Jerry Falwell for Ruining Tuesday =-.

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:28:51 +0000

Many parents don’t parent. I don’t think you were out of line at all! Kids need to learn, and if the parents don’t teach them, society must. It takes a village.
.-= Author’s last blog post… Thank You, Body Fat, Sick, etc. =-.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:09:31 +0000

Totally unrelated to your post, but thanks for the comment on my blog and the quick story about how you met your husband. It made me smile tonight!
.-= Author’s last blog post… A Quick Funny =-.

By: Alice

Alice — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:56:34 +0000

oh i TOTALLY find myself “parenting” other peoples’ kids. and i’m not even a parent either! i feel very strongly that too many parents take the “let kids be kids” thing WAY too far. let kids be kids, but also RESPECTABLE HUMAN BEINGS, maybe?
.-= Author’s last blog post… girrrl i want to make you sweat =-.

By: lifestudent

lifestudent — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:12:37 +0000

Ok, so the other day a friend of mine was at MY HOUSE with her kids. Her son jumped on two of my couches, my bed, and BROOKES CRIB. He also set up some items and went HUMAN BOWLING. He pushed Brooke several times (who can barely walk yet) and knocked her down.

Its a parenting thing. There are parents who think the hands-off approach is appropriate, there are others who are just too overwhelmed with their kids and cannot control them, and there are others yet who had kids but dont think they actually have to take care of them. All three of those parenting types are the kind that raise kids like your neighbor-kids Your scolding wont make a difference, they likely dont know any better and just think you are psycho. Talking to their parents wont matter either, they likely dont care. (and they will think you are a psycho too).
.-= Author’s last blog post… Just Me & A Raccoon =-.

By: hotchpotchery

hotchpotchery — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:37:52 +0000

I think parents are too tired and bedraggled to give a rat’s ass what their kids are doing out of sight. That is NO excuse mind you, but I think that is why. I also think the parents should be approached, however, please know that most parents do not think their precious angel can do wrong and will likely be defensive and not do a damn thing.

Hate it for you. I think that is why we are going to buy a condo!

By: Scale Warfare

Scale Warfare — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:26:53 +0000

REALLY Happy someone else feels this way besides me. Why do I always have to be the asshole (or what feels like the asshole)? Why cant other people take care of themselves and their own actions (and their kids for that matter)?? .-= Author's last blog post... Great Weekend & Weigh In =-.

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:03:01 +0000

At the first house Jason and I lived in, the kids next door would ride their bikes up and down the sidewalk (badly) in front of our house and crash into our fence and our flowers. They would pick the daylilies and torment our dogs. I was the bitch who tried to plant cactus in between the lilies to deter them! Didn’t work, sadly.
.-= Author’s last blog post… October Wrap-Up =-.

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:52:32 +0000

Kids these days! I’m a bit shocked by many of them, and I’m sure I don’t see the worst of it. I have a feeling the parents might be upset if you said something to them, but I think I would. It’s not up to you to discipline them, it’s their job. Like one of the above posters said, I don’t think that parents watch their kids as much anymore. When I worked as a server in a restaurant, some kids would just sit there and yell and make a mess and the parents wouldn’t do anything. I couldn’t believe it! As a camp counselor, I was shocked at what the kids would do. The food they brought for lunch (cans of soda for seven year olds…really??), all the toys they had…such a far cry from how I was raised.

Okay, that is probably enough. But you get the picture.
.-= Author’s last blog post… Pennsylvania and I are NOT friends. Ever. =-.