I read an article in the NY Times that ruffled my feathers enough for me to write about it.
First, I'll give you a chance to read the article here. I hope it doesn't make you register. I'm sorry if it does. I figure most of us read the NY Times anyway.
So, now that you have read the article, let me share what I'm so incensed about. This may not endear me to a lot of you child-loving and having folks, but really, I have more of a problem with the adults.
Why is it such a horrible thing to ask kids to behave when they are in a public place, specifically a coffee shop filled with people trying to relax? Why do so many parents think it's okay for their precious offspring to run wild and act like a brat in such situations? Why do they get all self-righteous and say the owner hates children because he wants to create a calm environment for the rest of his customers? Is this what happens when self-absorbed parents raise self-absorbed children?
Now, I realize that I am not a parent. At best, I am exposed to children occasionally at work when the students come by, or when we have Elliot, which is only a few times a year. So, I am in the child-free camp. But, I honestly don't think it's too much to ask the parents to, I don't know, actually parent their children! Over the years, I've seen kids acting increasingly worse, with the parents absolutely oblivious. And then, when you call their attention to it, they accuse you of trying to tell them how to raise their kids.
To illustrate, here is a recent example:
A few months ago, EnergyChannel and I were in Lowe's looking at appliances. We had Elliot, who was almost 7 years old at the time, and who can be a handful when he's full of energy. In the store, however, Elliot didn't run around. He didn't yell, or try to touch everything. He patiently put up with us debating refrigerators for quite awhile, and entertained himself with a piece of paper he found in his pocket. A couple with a smallish child (maybe 4 or 5) came by. The child had a toy in his hands, but when he caught sight of Elliot playing with the paper, he came right over and tried to grab it out of his hand! I couldn't believe it. We both went over and asked this child to stop, to go back to his parents, but I don't think the family spoke english, because the kid just kept on coming. Eventually I stood in front of Elliot with my arms out, telling the kid repeatedly to stop bothering our kid, and he got frustrated, threw his own toy down and started crying. All because he didn't have the crumpled piece of paper that Elliot had. Finally, we left the department. The whole time, the parents were oblivious to their child's tantrum. I think the dad was actually deaf. I was in shock that parents could be that neglectful of their child. I mean, come on guys, a little personal responsibilty goes a long way.
Anyway, if you're still reading, I just want to say that it is not impossible to teach a child to behave in public, nor is it the child's right to do whatever she/he damn well pleases because she/he is small and cute. Parents get mad when other people try to control their kids, but that's usually because the parents aren't doing a damn thing to remedy the situation.
If you have children, please don't be one of these parents.
First, I'll give you a chance to read the article here. I hope it doesn't make you register. I'm sorry if it does. I figure most of us read the NY Times anyway.
So, now that you have read the article, let me share what I'm so incensed about. This may not endear me to a lot of you child-loving and having folks, but really, I have more of a problem with the adults.
Why is it such a horrible thing to ask kids to behave when they are in a public place, specifically a coffee shop filled with people trying to relax? Why do so many parents think it's okay for their precious offspring to run wild and act like a brat in such situations? Why do they get all self-righteous and say the owner hates children because he wants to create a calm environment for the rest of his customers? Is this what happens when self-absorbed parents raise self-absorbed children?
Now, I realize that I am not a parent. At best, I am exposed to children occasionally at work when the students come by, or when we have Elliot, which is only a few times a year. So, I am in the child-free camp. But, I honestly don't think it's too much to ask the parents to, I don't know, actually parent their children! Over the years, I've seen kids acting increasingly worse, with the parents absolutely oblivious. And then, when you call their attention to it, they accuse you of trying to tell them how to raise their kids.
To illustrate, here is a recent example:
A few months ago, EnergyChannel and I were in Lowe's looking at appliances. We had Elliot, who was almost 7 years old at the time, and who can be a handful when he's full of energy. In the store, however, Elliot didn't run around. He didn't yell, or try to touch everything. He patiently put up with us debating refrigerators for quite awhile, and entertained himself with a piece of paper he found in his pocket. A couple with a smallish child (maybe 4 or 5) came by. The child had a toy in his hands, but when he caught sight of Elliot playing with the paper, he came right over and tried to grab it out of his hand! I couldn't believe it. We both went over and asked this child to stop, to go back to his parents, but I don't think the family spoke english, because the kid just kept on coming. Eventually I stood in front of Elliot with my arms out, telling the kid repeatedly to stop bothering our kid, and he got frustrated, threw his own toy down and started crying. All because he didn't have the crumpled piece of paper that Elliot had. Finally, we left the department. The whole time, the parents were oblivious to their child's tantrum. I think the dad was actually deaf. I was in shock that parents could be that neglectful of their child. I mean, come on guys, a little personal responsibilty goes a long way.
Anyway, if you're still reading, I just want to say that it is not impossible to teach a child to behave in public, nor is it the child's right to do whatever she/he damn well pleases because she/he is small and cute. Parents get mad when other people try to control their kids, but that's usually because the parents aren't doing a damn thing to remedy the situation.
If you have children, please don't be one of these parents.
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
Ugh...
Yeah, parents who don't take responsibility for their child's actions are the bane of the universe.
I'm not even joking. This is why I'm not the worlds supreme overlord. Too bad for us, eh?