People who let their kids play in a store suck!

[scatty]

You know the kid. He's throwing a ball, riding a display bike, trying out the skateboards, skating in his wheelies, playing tag with his inbred siblings, opening packages of candy and stuffing his grimy hands full (not like his face was clean to start with!)

The other day at walmart a kid was sitting in the big part of the shopping cart, his mommy wheeling him around the easter stuff. Then he grabs this toy. I don't even know how to describe it except it emitted a horrible, loud, piercing sound at a volume to rival a police siren. His mommy just kept steering him through the jam packed aisle. People gave her dirty looks, whispering things about how "if that was my child." She seemed oblivious that her son was possibly the devil! Then after a few minutes she says to him "That toy is annoying." He looked at her, licked his lips, and continued using the toy, except now he was swinging it into innocent shoppers. She just stood there. It seemed she had no idea how to discipline him! I know who's boss at that house. BTW, I didn't say anything because I was having a major brain meltdown/panic attack/crying thing going on.

Is it just me or are kids becoming more bratty due to lazy parenting? Plus have you noticed how lazy some kids are? They are our future. We are all doomed!

[Rabbit37]

That's one of the gazillion reasons I won't go to walmart. The kids are awful there, and the parents worse. There's just something about the place, maybe it's subliminal messaging.

[december_brigette]

i guess im half-guilty. i'll let sarah play with toys to keep her quiet. but no opening ANYTHING in the store until we purchase - unless we are in target. then i buy her cookies before we start shopping so she has something to do and eat. "special target only cookies-" and it works.

i would never let her do anything else with the cookies - only for eating and she knows that.

db

[beetle]

You know the kid. He's throwing a ball, riding a display bike, trying out the skateboards, skating in his wheelies, playing tag with his inbred siblings, opening packages of candy and stuffing his grimy hands full (not like his face was clean to start with!)

The other day at walmart a kid was sitting in the big part of the shopping cart, his mommy wheeling him around the easter stuff. Then he grabs this toy. I don't even know how to describe it except it emitted a horrible, loud, piercing sound at a volume to rival a police siren. His mommy just kept steering him through the jam packed aisle. People gave her dirty looks, whispering things about how "if that was my child." She seemed oblivious that her son was possibly the devil! Then after a few minutes she says to him "That toy is annoying." He looked at her, licked his lips, and continued using the toy, except now he was swinging it into innocent shoppers. She just stood there. It seemed she had no idea how to discipline him! I know who's boss at that house. BTW, I didn't say anything because I was having a major brain meltdown/panic attack/crying thing going on.

Is it just me or are kids becoming more bratty due to lazy parenting? Plus have you noticed how lazy some kids are? They are our future. We are all doomed!

And this is reason number 3 why I hate people.

[withing]

Believe me, bratty kids are not a new thing - Dennis the Menace wasn't a figment of the artist's imagination. They still suck, but they're not a new thing at all. I was complaining about it when my kids were toddlers. The youngest is nineteen now. And you can bet your ass that my kids didn't act like that because I would have spanked them right there in the store. There's a time to play and there's time to be quiet. My kids knew that.

AND, they are not a Wal-mart phenomena. I used to bitch about people who let their kids run around in restaurants. I wouldn't eat out for a long time because these kids would trigger my rage so easily...

But, we only notice the noisy brats, not the quiet ones. There are plenty of those. I think our future is safe.

[lottacrazy]

That is another reason why I have my 3 on short leashes "pardon the term" My kids no better than that, I would grab one of them by their collar and drag them out of the store if they pulled that. A rulle should be placed at the entrance of walmart "this store is not your childs person toy box/ food pantry!"

Parents dont actually parent anymore, they just carry them for the nine months, push em out and then give them a screw driver or matches to play with. THIS IS NOT A GENERALIZATION! But I see ALOT of so called parent just not caring, 11 year old running down main street at 11 at night parent have no clue what there kids are doing and not really caring either. It is pathetic and really sad. I think children should be a priveleage not a right in some cases.

[december_brigette]

well - my baby was surgically removed - but whatever.

im trying to write some kind of response but everything is just a fight anyway.

db

[lottacrazy]

DB as I said not a generalization, there are a lot of bad parent where I live...I mean alot it is sickening. I see girls I went to school with on the news for there houses being found in "deplorable and unsanitary conditions" and I hear of kids doing what ever they want and getting in crap loads of trouble because their parent didnt care enough.

The parents I am speaking of shouldnt have the ability to have kids, it is sick, they make kids for fun it seems...dont they know what a condom is (I know it isnt 100% effective but you get the point)

As far as the toy box thing, that is for the kids who hop on the bike and start riding through the store with a path of destruction, I give my daughter a toy at the store, I will grab some dollar toy at target first thing to amuse my daughter, but I dont let her run off to do as she pleases as some parents do, obviously you arent one of them you kee your child entertained and calm not ripping open packages and doing what ever.

I never ever mean to start a fight or offend ANYONE

[withing]

well - my baby was surgically removed - but whatever.

im trying to write some kind of response but everything is just a fight anyway.

db

heh, three of my kids were surgically removed - I squeezed the first out. Didn't make them any less mine.

I still say that for every bratty kid out there, there is at least one - maybe two, probably more - we simply overlook because they're not drawing our attention. You know?

[Alien.]

*feels smug that this part of her depression has been cured*

[daisy]

I can't stand when kids run around like crazy in stores. I know that they're kids and that some can be a pain in the ass to take anywhere. They're just kids -- and the vast majority of them will attempt to do stuff like that when out shopping. But it seems like many of the parents don't do anything at all!!! (Giving a quiet toy or cookies to a kid when shopping = good! Thank you on behalf of the rest of shoppers everywhere for knowing how to keep your child entertained while you're shopping! That's good parenting. It's not easy to go shopping with a kid, I'm sure. I've heard the horror stories from my mom! )

However, what I REALLY don't understand is kids running around at restaurants. I'm a waitress, and sometimes kids run EVERYWHERE. Seriously. Do these parents not see that I'm holding a VERY heavy tray in my hand full of hot food while their children are running all around me? And I know kids are messy when they eat, but some of the messes these parents leave for me to clean up... it's like a tornado came through their table. I don't see how these messes can be made by humans. (I LOVE kids, don't get me wrong. The problem is the parents.)

There's only one store I refuse to go into because of the kids, and that store is Ross. I have had several panic attacks there because my anxiety just goes through the roof. We don't have a Walmart near my house, so I stick to Target, which I surprisingly haven't had a problem with. The one or two times I've gone to Walmart, I've had to leave because of my anxiety going so high because of the kids.

Luckily, most kids and parents in this world are good. I have a higher patience level than a lot of people I know, though, because I LOOOOVE kids.

[r2mnot]

I must live on another planet or something. It's been rare, in my experience, to see kids totally out of control.

Or maybe I just don't get out much.

One thing that I think should be mentioned, however, is that it is not always the parent's fault. I have a couple of friends with autistic children. These kids are in very loving homes and are receiving appropriate care, education, etc. But they are both hard to manage, and despite the wonderful job these parents are doing, their kids sometimes have meltdowns, run around or whatever in public places. Their parents have to put up with a lot of judgment from total strangers who have no idea what's going on.

I have another friend who adopted a child who had been through extreme neglect for the first six years of her life, so her behavior is not even close to age appropriate.

The lesson here is- Don't be too judgmental of people you don't know.

[daisy]

I must live on another planet or something. It's been rare, in my experience, to see kids totally out of control.

Or maybe I just don't get out much.

One thing that I think should be mentioned, however, is that it is not always the parent's fault. I have a couple of friends with autistic children. These kids are in very loving homes and are receiving appropriate care, education, etc. But they are both hard to manage, and despite the wonderful job these parents are doing, their kids sometimes have meltdowns, run around or whatever in public places. Their parents have to put up with a lot of judgment from total strangers who have no idea what's going on.

I have another friend who adopted a child who had been through extreme neglect for the first six years of her life, so her behavior is not even close to age appropriate.

The lesson here is- Don't be too judgmental of people you don't know.

It is rare for me, too! But the moments when it happens always stick out in my mind. I agree that it isn't always the parent's fault. However, most of the time it's easy to tell when the parents are trying very hard to make their kids behave in public. It's also easy to tell when the parents just don't care. I don't judge the parents who are obviously doing everything they can -- after all, kids are kids to some extent. Even the calmest kid can act up like that sometimes. But if the parents act completely oblivious to it and don't say anything... it drives me nuts. There is one couple who comes to my restaurant with their ADORABLE kid. I LOVE that little boy. But they let him run around and do whatever he wants. He's gotten up on chairs and almost fallen and hit his head on our hard tile floor. They don't even say anything. I love the boy, but I don't like how I end up babysitting him when they come in to my restaurant. I do it even when they don't sit in my section, because I'm worried he'll get hurt. And I don't see any tips for that...

That's what I'm talking about when I say I can't stand kids running around. I don't judge parents who are making an effort at all!

[beetle]

I must live on another planet or something. It's been rare, in my experience, to see kids totally out of control.

Or maybe I just don't get out much.

One thing that I think should be mentioned, however, is that it is not always the parent's fault. I have a couple of friends with autistic children. These kids are in very loving homes and are receiving appropriate care, education, etc. But they are both hard to manage, and despite the wonderful job these parents are doing, their kids sometimes have meltdowns, run around or whatever in public places. Their parents have to put up with a lot of judgment from total strangers who have no idea what's going on.

I have another friend who adopted a child who had been through extreme neglect for the first six years of her life, so her behavior is not even close to age appropriate.

The lesson here is- Don't be too judgmental of people you don't know.

It is rare for me, too! But the moments when it happens always stick out in my mind. I agree that it isn't always the parent's fault. However, most of the time it's easy to tell when the parents are trying very hard to make their kids behave in public. It's also easy to tell when the parents just don't care. I don't judge the parents who are obviously doing everything they can -- after all, kids are kids to some extent. Even the calmest kid can act up like that sometimes. But if the parents act completely oblivious to it and don't say anything... it drives me nuts. There is one couple who comes to my restaurant with their ADORABLE kid. I LOVE that little boy. But they let him run around and do whatever he wants. He's gotten up on chairs and almost fallen and hit his head on our hard tile floor. They don't even say anything. I love the boy, but I don't like how I end up babysitting him when they come in to my restaurant. I do it even when they don't sit in my section, because I'm worried he'll get hurt. And I don't see any tips for that...

That's what I'm talking about when I say I can't stand kids running around. I don't judge parents who are making an effort at all!

Ugh. Bratty kids at the restaurant. Hate that shit. The thing is, it used to be if you had kids, it meant your life was going to change somewhat, at least while they were very young. What I mean by that is, having kids meant that at least for awhile, you didn't go out and do all the things you used to, like going out to eat, going on vacation... stuff like that. You had a young kid and you took care of him/her... at home. Or, if you wanted a night out you got a babysitter.

But these days, nothing is stopping anyone from doing whatever the hell they want, even if it's at the expense of others. They'll drag those young kids out to the restaurant (or wherever) and then let them run wild. When I grew up, we just didn't go places like that when I was really young. Then again, I was very well behaved. My mother even tells me, "you never acted like that" whenever we see someone with a kid going bonkers in public.

I don't advocate how she achieved that very well disciplined behavior in me. She was abusive, that much is true. And I'm not saying that people should beat the hell out of their kids to keep them in line but they shouldn't be ignoring the behavior either. Put it this way, if I even thought about doing something stupid out in public, my mother would say quite calmly and quietly, "do not embarrass me in public". I knew exactly what that meant. It meant that if I kept doing whatever it was, I was going to get an ass beating when we got home. It DID work. I do have issues til this day from the abuse. I mean, it wasn't just spankings. But then, I also find it has made me more aware of how I act in public as an adult. I'm am aware of others and their rights to sit down, have a nice meal. I am polite. It seems like younger generations are losing the concept of common courtesy. It's like a lot of kids aren't being taught that they are not the center of the universe. It's an important thing for kids to learn.

But quite simply, if your kid is unable to sit somewhat quietly at the table and not get up running around and screaming, then you really shouldn't be bringing them out to the restaurant. There are others there who are trying to have their meal, and it's being ruined by your kid's behavior. That's just my opinion of course, and I realize I am in the minority these days. Which is why I rarely go out anymore.

[r2mnot]

I understand about parents who are making no effort- especially the ones you see regularly. I just wanted to point out some exceptions, that's all.

It can go the other way too. When my sister's son was little, he would just take off and disappear the moment she took her eyes off of him. When we flew to Chicago, she kept him on a harness & leash, and got lots of dirty looks...But hey, it kept the kid safe and my sister from losing her mind.

[lottacrazy]

A lot of parents try, and some kids are just very difficult, my child isnt perfect in any way. There are alot of parents who are trying to calm the child down but the kid is going to be a kid, oppositional, whiney etc. my daughter has done it before.

I used to be a waitress, I never had a bad child but they do leave quite a mess, you have french fries smashed under the table and pop everywhere. The kid is painted with ketchup...lol

I am speaking of the parents who dont give a shit about what their kid does, they dont care. YOu can tell a parent who is at wits end from a parent doesnt care. They have a look on their face, you can see it in the eyes, its this I dont care what he does and I dont care what you think look, or they are too busy on the cell phone to see the kid ripping apart a book and when they finally see they put it on a shelf and walk off. I hate that! either pay for it or give it to a worker they can write it off as a damaged item and get their money back, I worked retail, and I hated when you would find something completely torn apart, it is ghetto and rude, just say "hey I am so sorry my kid got a hold of it and ripped it apart" they will most likely just say "thats fine I will take care of it"

[daisy]

I was very well behaved. My mother even tells me, "you never acted like that" whenever we see someone with a kid going bonkers in public.

I don't advocate how she achieved that very well disciplined behavior in me. She was abusive, that much is true. And I'm not saying that people should beat the hell out of their kids to keep them in line but they shouldn't be ignoring the behavior either. Put it this way, if I even thought about doing something stupid out in public, my mother would say quite calmly and quietly, "do not embarrass me in public". I knew exactly what that meant. It meant that if I kept doing whatever it was, I was going to get an ass beating when we got home. It DID work. I do have issues til this day from the abuse. I mean, it wasn't just spankings. But then, I also find it has made me more aware of how I act in public as an adult. I'm am aware of others and their rights to sit down, have a nice meal. I am polite. It seems like younger generations are losing the concept of common courtesy. It's like a lot of kids aren't being taught that they are not the center of the universe. It's an important thing for kids to learn.

But quite simply, if your kid is unable to sit somewhat quietly at the table and not get up running around and screaming, then you really shouldn't be bringing them out to the restaurant. There are others there who are trying to have their meal, and it's being ruined by your kid's behavior. That's just my opinion of course, and I realize I am in the minority these days. Which is why I rarely go out anymore.

I was very well-behaved in public as well, but that's just in my nature. There were times, however, where I know my mom must have been at her wit's end. (And I wasn't so well-behaved in private, apparently! ) It's not easy to take care of kids! Like you said, abuse, of course, isn't the answer. But parents do need to let kids know that there are consequences for their behaviors. Otherwise, they won't be willing to take responsibility for their behaviors and actions. For example, even though I was taught to always act right in public, my parents often let me throw temper tantrums at home as a child. Guess what -- when I get angry or upset now, I want to throw a temper tantrum! (Don't get me wrong, they are amazing, incredible parents, and I couldn't ask for anybody better. That was one of their biggest mistakes, though!) Kids will do what their parents allow them to do.

I agree that younger generations ARE losing common courtesy. I even notice it in kids my age. They don't say things like "excuse me" or "sir" or "ma'am" as often. (This might sound awful, and I don't mean it to sound this way, but... I'm from Texas, and this is mostly a phenomenon at my school with a lot of transplants from other regions. Most of my friends from home were raised to say these kinds of things, and don't even think about it. Then again, this is perhaps not because of transplants from other areas, but the fact that I go to a school known for it's wealth and many of the kids think they're above everybody else, anyways.)

But kids now... they seem to have way less manners than young adults my age. It seems like common courtesy and manners are slowly disappearing.

[withing]

These are my fav quote about kids... because they've been around forever decrying "our future" and yet, we're all still here.

I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint. - Hesoid (around 700 B.C i think)

The world is passing through troubling times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress. attributed to Peter the Hermit 12th century

The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they allow disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children now are tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers. - anon but it's been around awhile.

The way I see it, kids will be kids. They grow out of they're terrible ways - most of them do. Sure it pisses me off when parents aren't doing their jobs right because when those kids grow up and have to go into the really real world they're in for a rude awakening - and that's all on the parents. But really the ones that try, I feel for them, and even though I do get annoyed, I also sigh a little inside and know that this is just the way things go.

[Phoenix_Rising]

We're all guilty of parenting mistakes. Some days are just harder than others.

Sure I see kids that I wish were more under control, but I'm just as sure that there are times someone else is looking at my kid thinking the same thing.

Parenting is difficult work. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt.

Peace,

Phoenix

[lottacrazy]

You are right pheonix.

As a side note if any one is looking for an extra kid I have one for you, I am about to rip my hair out, she is crazy today. I hid the candy hours ago, she is just wired, the neighbors keep lookig at my house because of all the noise from one child.

[Maddy]

I don't like kids for the most part.

A lot of them are loud.

But I just don't like loud things.

Like cars that do that loud stereo bass shit.

UGH! That makes me ill. Literally. I really do get nauseated from it.

I think that people can suck in general. I've seen some horrible behaviour from people of all ages in Wal-Mart and other similar retail stores. It's really scary. I want to know what possesses people to get all the way naked in public to try on Wal-Mart clothes out where everyone and their grandma can see you? ick.

I really think this is one of the reasons why I fear leaving the house.

[AnneMarie]

Like cars that do that loud stereo bass shit.

Like cars with that base shit so loud it unscrews the vehicle and you know the rattling vibration is killing any [theoretical] musical sound.

As long as the kids or adults are not screaming or shoving I can ordinarily ignore most of it, or maybe just wonder - wtf.

[Northlight]

The occasional crying and screaming is bound to happen. The good parents are dealing with it and typically look a little embarrassed. The other type of parents don't seem to notice it happening. I frequently feel the desire to ram my shopping cart into those types of parents. It could just be that shopping makes me bitchy.

I have no patience for poorly behaved children in restaurants. I'm forgiving if it's a fast food place, or even something more family friendly like Dennys. If it is a nice restaurant and I'm paying a decent amount of cash then I want to enjoy myself. It's a special treat and I want to relax and eat good food and have good conversation. People should have the good sense to get a babysitter if their child cannot sit quietly throughout a meal.

Then again, I don't really like children as a whole. I can think of some individual children that I truly love. I think there are too many people (at least in my city) who honestly believe that the public loves their children as much as they do. It really isn't true. Now, I think we can almost all agree that a quiet, well behaved child is almost universally adorable. A screaming child running underfoot is not.

[withing]

Yanno, I often wonder why people feel this uncontrollable urge to bring their little darlings to every. single. place. they. go! I had four kids and if I went to a nice restaurant, I left their butts at home. Why? because there's nothing to entertain a child in a nice restaurant, and children get bored! and when children get bored, they start whining and crying and carrying on.

Small children should not be brought to weddings; they shouldn't be brought to funerals, they should be left at home when parents go out to eat at fancy restaurants, and anywhere else that's going to take forever and a day where they're going to get bored. If a child gets bored, that's when they'll find ways to amuse themselves, and that usually leads to misbehavior - esp if the parents aren't paying attention to them. It amazes me when people bring their kids to places like - job interviews, the DMV, doctor's appointments, etc. I'm sorry, if a person can't find a babysitter, they need to reschedule.